Chamber and committees

Amendment 44, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendment 45.

Amendment 127, in the name of Jamie Greene, is in a group on its own.

Members will be glad to know that we have reached the final group of amendments. Amendment 128, in the name of Jamie Greene, is the only amendment in the group.

We are almost there.

Amendment 56 moved—[Collette Stevenson]—and agreed to.

Amendment 129 not moved.

Section 45—Interpretation

Amendments 130 and 131 not moved.

Section 45 agreed to.

Sections 46 to 49 agreed to.

Section 50—Commencement

Amendment 57 moved—[Collette Stevenson]—and agreed to.

Amendment 132 moved—[Jamie Greene].

The question is, that amendment 133 be agreed to. Are we all agreed?

Members: No.

Creating and supporting green jobs through initiatives such as the green jobs fund and the just transition fund for the north-east and Moray will play an important part in securing our transition to net zero. However, the Scottish Government’s ambitions do not seem to be matched by the UK Government’s. Does the minister agree that it is high time that the UK Government stepped up and committed to properly supporting a just transition, matching the Scottish Government’s £500 million just transition fund?

I acknowledge the experiences that have been articulated by Stephen Kerr and the cabinet secretary.

The Scottish Government has stated that it will introduce pioneering new restorative justice services through the launch of restorative justice hubs. That has been welcomed by stakeholders. Does the cabinet secretary share my view that the introduction of such services represents a critical step towards putting victims at the heart of the justice system?

It is my pleasure to open the debate on behalf of the Criminal Justice Committee.

Last year, the Criminal Justice Committee heard from people with lived and living experience of problem drug use, who told us that they wanted to see tangible outcomes from the work of the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce. I am very grateful to members of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, the Social Justice and Social Security Committee and the Criminal Justice Committee for agreeing to collectively consider the implementation of the task force’s recommendations.

The written evidence that we received highlighted the wide range of innovative work that has been undertaken in response to the recommendations, but it also identified gaps and barriers to implementation that need to be addressed. Today’s debate will be wider in scope, and I will focus on the police service’s role in reducing drug deaths and tackling drug harm.

We know that, in the course of their operational duties, police officers frequently engage with people who are impacted by problem drug use. We know that adverse childhood experiences and trauma are risk factors for problematic drug use, so it is vital that initial police contact is trauma informed and trauma responsive. The committee welcomes the fact that training is being delivered to officers that will support them in signposting people to appropriate recovery and treatment services earlier and more effectively, often at a time of increased vulnerability.

Police Scotland, in partnership with Medics Against Violence, has piloted a pathfinder service in Inverness for people with problematic drug use, which refers individuals to support that connects them with organisations that can aid their recovery. Following evaluation, the service is to be expanded, which is a very welcome development. However, that approach will be effective only if treatment and recovery services can meet the demand. The task force recommended that the Scottish Government pursue increased weekend access to treatment and support, but the evidence that we received suggests that out-of-hours treatment and support, especially at weekends, remains a gap in the delivery of a whole-system model of care.

Staying on the theme of collaborative working, and among the many examples that were provided in the written evidence, the committee welcomed Police Scotland’s partnership work with the Scottish Drugs Forum, the Scottish Recovery Consortium, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to provide training to probationary officers on substance use and the barriers to support and treatment that are caused by associated stigma. The committee also welcomed Police Scotland’s work with Scottish universities such as Robert Gordon University to allow a quick turnaround time in drug analysis.

The task force recommended that the distribution of naloxone be maximised. Police Scotland’s proactive approach to training officers to administer the naloxone nasal spray to those suspected of a drug overdose has undoubtedly saved lives. However, police officers are rightly concerned about facing investigation and/or prosecution when naloxone has been administered in response to an overdose and the person has subsequently died. That is an important issue that we consider needs to be addressed.

Another area of current focus is the legality of the provision of safe drug consumption rooms. The UK Government is not considering a legislative framework to support their introduction, and it has not devolved powers to the Scottish Government for that purpose. Police Scotland’s discussions with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have indicated that

“there is the belief that a legal framework may exist to allow those who would operate a Safe Drugs Consumption Facility to do so within current legislative provisions.”

However, Police Scotland has stated that, although that may provide a basis on which to operate a facility, it would not address the potential criminality of those with addiction issues attending to use safe consumption rooms while in possession of illegal drugs. I very much hope that that issue can be resolved timeously.

There are many more issues that I would like to cover. However, it is really encouraging—this is endorsed by the committee—to hear about the innovative and collaborative work that is taking place to tackle the complex and multiple issues that contribute to drug deaths and drug harms. The latest data, on suspected drug deaths in 2021, shows a fall of 8 per cent from the previous year. As we know, however, every death is a tragedy; therefore, although that is good news, there is still much more to do. I believe that, by working together in the Parliament, across Government and across the public and third sectors, we can and we will make an important contribution to tackling drug deaths and drug harms.

The result of the division is: For 4, Against 4, Abstentions 0.

There is an equality of votes. Therefore, as convener, I will use my casting vote against the amendment.

Amendment 58 disagreed to.

The question is, that amendment 59 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.