Seòmar agus comataidhean

Minister, would you like to sum up and respond to the debate?

There will be a division.

For

Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunnninghame South) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)

Against

Gulhane, Dr. Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Region) (Con)

The result of the division is: For 8, Against 2, Abstentions 0.

Motion agreed to.

At our next meeting, on 16 April, we will consider a negative instrument and a draft stage 1 report on the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.

Agenda item 2 is consideration of two draft affirmative instruments, the first of which is the draft Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (Continuation) Order 2024. The purpose of the order is to continue the effect of minimum unit pricing provisions that were inserted into the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 by the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012. In the absence of this order, those provisions would expire.

The policy note states that minimum unit pricing has had a positive impact on tackling alcohol-related harms in Scotland and should be continued, as evidence suggests that, if MUP were no longer in effect, alcohol consumption would increase, contrary to the policy aim of reducing alcohol-related harm.

The second instrument is the draft Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024. The purpose of the instrument is to increase the minimum unit price, which is currently set at 50p per unit, to 65p per unit. The policy note states that evidence has found that MUP at 50p per unit has had a positive impact on health outcomes in Scotland and that, in order to derive greater health benefits, the current level should be raised to 65p per unit. I also note that the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the instruments at its meeting on 27 February 2024 and made no recommendations in relation to them.

We will now have an evidence session on the instruments with the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and supporting officials. Once our questions have been answered, we will proceed to a formal debate on the motions.

I welcome to the committee Christina McKelvie, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and from the Scottish Government: Orlando Heijmer-Mason, drugs policy division; Katherine Myant, health and social care analysis; and James Wilson, population, health strategy and improvement. I invite the minister to make a brief opening statement.

Thank you, minister, for that opening statement. As it has pre-empted what was going to be my first question, I will move on to my next.

You touched on claims from certain stakeholders that the conclusions that Public Health Scotland had reached in its evaluation of MUP were

“selective, biased, misleading or flawed.”

How would you counter that? How would you respond to those claims?

Thank you for that. I should also place on record a reference to my entry in the register of members’ interests as a registered mental health nurse with a current bank contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Briefly, one of the initial aims of MUP was to decrease the sales of high-alcohol-by-volume products, particularly strong ciders and so on. Has the Government done any research on whether there has been an impact on the sales of those products?

Has there been an impact on the sales of other products, such as whisky and other spirits?

Thank you, Mr Torrance. We will go back to Paul Sweeney for a supplementary.

Good morning, and welcome to the 10th meeting in 2024 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I have received no apologies.

Agenda item 1 is to decide whether to take items 5 and 6 in private and whether to consider in private at future meetings a draft report on the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.