Chamber and committees

I have one final question—this is your opportunity to raise issues. The committee will take evidence from representatives of HIAL and Prospect. Are there any issues that you would like us to raise with them and, if so, why?

I definitely want to keep the petition open. I know that my colleague Emma Harper has been working with the petitioner, Gordon Baird. However, before we invite him to come to the committee to give evidence, perhaps we can check whether there is anything on the subject in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s work programme. There are two similar petitions.

It is 10 years since 50p was first proposed as the minimum unit price. In evidence to the committee, it has been argued that the price should be automatically uprated with inflation, rather than there being a need for a review or legislation. What are your feelings on that?

The Scottish Government was committed to a review of minimum unit pricing after two years, but the review was delayed by the pandemic. In your opening statement, you said that there will be a five-year review and that we are now four years into minimum unit pricing. Will you update the committee on how things are progressing?

It is my favourite subject, minister. What impact will the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 have on Scots law on food composition standards and labelling?

Thank you.

How could Brexit and the internal UK market, which the minister mentioned in her statement, affect Scotland and the Scottish Government as they try to implement health measures against alcohol?

In evidence to the committee, Quality Meat Scotland said that it is vital that the common framework should “respect devolution settlements” by allowing for “policy divergences”. Does the Scottish Government intend to request exclusions from the act in policy areas that are covered by the common framework?

Good morning. The first objective of the group was to come up with definitions. How did you go about doing that?

I agree with that suggestion. Two sessions ago, our predecessor committee went to the Rest and Be Thankful to see the progress that had been made. Like the convener, I would not like us to close the petition, so I go along with his recommendations.