Tag: Scottish Liberal Democrats

Drugs: Scottish Government calls for decriminalisation for personal supply

RECKLESS, SAY SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES

Decriminalisation of all drugs for personal supply is one of a number of polices which the Scottish Government is calling on the UK Government to implement in a new paper on drug law reform.

The move would allow people found in possession of drugs to be treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded. Decriminalisation would also mean that without a criminal record, people in recovery would have a better chance of employment.

The document has been published by the Scottish Government outlining measures which could be implemented through further devolution, independence, or changes enacted immediately by the UK Government to support the work being done within existing powers to reduce drug deaths.

Among the proposals are:

  • Decriminalisation of all drugs for personal supply progressed as part of a wider review of drug laws
  • Immediate legislative changes to allow us to fully and properly implement harm reduction measures such as supervised drug consumption facilities (rather than the current proposal being explored which is constrained by having to work within existing legislation), drug checking and increased access to the life saving drug naloxone.
  • a roadmap for further exploration of drug law reform, focused on evidence and the reduction of harm, including an update of the drug classification system to be based on harms caused

The proposals follow recommendations made by the Drug Deaths Taskforce in September 2021.

Minister for Drugs Policy Elena Whitham said: “These are ambitious and radical proposals, grounded in evidence, that will help save lives.

“We want to create a society where problematic drug use is treated as a health, not a criminal matter, reducing stigma and discrimination and enabling the person to recover and contribute positively to society. While we know these proposals will spark debate, they are in line with our public health approach and would further our national mission to improve and save lives.

“We are working hard within the powers we have to reduce drug deaths, and while there is more we need to do, our approach is simply at odds with the Westminster legislation we must operate within.

“These policies could be implemented by the Scottish Government through the devolution of further, specific powers to Holyrood including the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 – or through independence. An immediate way for these policies to be enacted would be for the UK Government to use its existing powers to change its drug laws.

“Scotland needs a caring, compassionate and human rights informed drugs policy, with public health and the reduction of harm as its underlying principles, and we are ready to work with the UK Government to put into practice this progressive policy.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives said: “Trying to solve Scotland’s drug death crisis by decriminalising dangerous class-A drugs is reckless.

“To tackle the highest drug death rate in Europe, Humza Yousaf needs to back our Right to Recovery Bill.”

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have been calling for the decriminalisation of drug misuse for years. From rehab spaces to support for families, there are pressing areas where action is needed. This is an urgent public health crisis and ministers need to act like it.

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Lib Dems ‘secure more money for Edinburgh, and mental health in the budget’

Scottish Liberal Democrats secure over £8.4 million for the City of Edinburgh

Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, and mental health spokesperson Rebecca Bell has welcomed additional funding secured by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie in this year’s Scottish budget yesterday at Holyrood.

In negotiations with the Scottish Government, the party secured an additional £1,162,488.10 for the City of Edinburgh council to provide more in-class support to children who need it by topping up the Pupil Equity Fund.

This is money paid directly to headteachers to provide additional support to pupils from less well-off backgrounds. This represents a 16% increase on the current year. 

Rebecca Bell said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Liberal Democrats have secured this extra money to help pupils across Edinburgh. Everyone deserves the best possible start in life and with this money we will provide more in-class support to children who need it.

“This funding is so vital just now, as we’ve sadly seen existing inequalities widen during the pandemic, and this financial boost will go directly towards addressing this problem.

“I am also really proud of our party pushing for an extra £120 million for mental health, this money will be spent on services in the community and I know how much these are needed. We had a mental health crisis before Covid-19 struck, and now the demand for treatment has grown rapidly, so we need to support our handworking NHS teams with proper funding.

“We have also managed to push the Government to move on the eye hospital, I am so happy to see this. I don’t want to see services moved out to Livingston, we need to go ahead with the rebuild of the Princess Alexandra as planned, it’s best for patients and best for staff.

“At the forthcoming election Scottish Liberal Democrats will put the recovery first by focusing on the issues that affect people day in, day out. If you elect me as your MSP I promise to stand up for education, jobs and mental health.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “People expect parties to work together in the middle of a pandemic. Our focus has been to put recovery first.

“We have highlighted the need for business support, an education bounce back plan, and better mental health services, given the pressure we know that the virus crisis has put on people.

“These proposals show the impact that Liberal Democrat MSPs can make, balancing important national matters with targeted local support for our constituents and putting the recovery first.

“That’s what you get with Scottish Liberal Democrat MSPs.”

The Scottish Green Party had earlier pledged their support for the SNP’s budget, thus ensuring it would be passed.

Scottish Liberal Democrats pledge to make Scotland a mental health world leader

The Scottish Liberal Democrat spring conference has today backed a package of proposals to “fix overwhelmed mental health services for good”.

As part of the party’s call to put recovery first, the seven-point plan will:  

  • Increase the number of training places for psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, especially those specialising in CAMHS;
  • Add counsellors to NHS workforce planning so their skills can help more people;
  • Expand the trained counselling workforce through new bursaries and training routes to widen access;
  • Fully resource mental health services through a target for them to receive 15% of future health spend increases;
  • Make every health service contact count through enhanced signposting to existing counsellors and third sector resources;
  • Provide new community services that young people can access with their families;
  • Restart and ramp up mental health first aid training with a new aspiration that every workplace should benefit.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:  “It’s time for Scotland to put the recovery first and fix our overwhelmed mental health services for good. 

“That means increasing the number of training places for psychiatrists and psychologists. We need to dramatically expand the number of counsellors and get the health service to help them tackle mental health problems in communities, schools and workplaces.

“The Scottish Government’s mental health strategy was years late and short on ambition. Even before the pandemic struck we had a record number of children waiting over a year for help.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have consistently championed our national mental health. Already this year our research has shown the toll it is taking. We’ve led Parliament in declaring a crisis and secured £120 million more for services next year. But it needs the full weight of our proposals and a government that will put recovery first to fix this for good.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat mental health spokesperson Rebecca Bell said: “This election is about putting the recovery first and that can only happen if we put both physical health and mental health at the core of the recovery. 

“Far too often mental health services are reliant on third sector provision with only a short- term funding commitment from the government. Meanwhile the Scottish Government cancelled training for mental health first-aiders during the pandemic despite similar courses continuing to run elsewhere in the UK. 

“These first-aiders can make all the difference, for example, someone to talk to at work when they start feeling unwell, before problems get worse. At the same time 1 in 8 specialist positions in child and adolescent mental health are unfilled, with young people in long queues waiting for treatment whilst they and their families are desperate for help.

“It’s time for a radical change. Scotland needs this realistic investment in order to achieve the long-term solutions we require to emerge from this crisis. You shouldn’t have to wait years for mental health support, any more than you should for cancer or a broken leg.

“These proposals from Scottish Liberal Democrats demonstrate our commitment to making Scotland a mental health world leader.”