Minutes: 26 March 2024

1. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 5 and 6 in private, and to consider, in private at future meetings, a draft report on the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (Continuation) Order 2024 [draft] and the Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 [draft] from—

Christina McKelvie, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, Orlando Heijmer-Mason, Drugs Policy Division, Katherine Myant, Health and Social Care Analysis, and James Wilson, Population Health Strategy and Improvement, Scottish Government.

Clare Haughey declared an interest as a registered nurse and as holding a bank nurse contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Sandesh Gulhane declared an interest as a practising NHS GP.

Emma Harper declared an interest as a registered nurse and as a former liver transplant nurse.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Christina McKelvie (Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy) moved—

S6M-12220—That the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee recommends that the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (Continuation) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

S6M-12221—That the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee recommends that the Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

After debate, motion S6M-12220 was agreed to by division: For 8, Against 2, Abstentions 0, and motion S6M-12221 was agreed to by division: For 8, Against 2, Abstentions 0.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Regulation of Care (Social Service Workers) (Scotland) Order 2024

The Committee agreed to make no recommendation in relation to the instrument.

5. Subordinate legislation (in private):

The Committee considered a draft report on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (Continuation) Order 2024 [draft] and the Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 [draft]. Various changes were agreed to, and the Committee agreed to consider a revised draft via correspondence.

6. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee considered its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 2. 

The Committee agreed, subject to the Scottish Government providing draft versions of its Stage 2 amendments in the near future, to undertake further scrutiny of those draft amendments prior to conducting formal Stage 2 proceedings on the Bill. It also agreed to a draft call for views to be issued when the draft amendments were available.