Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) Thursday 17 June 2021 Session 6 © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.parliament.scot or by contacting Public Information on 0131 348 5000 Thursday 17 June 2021 CONTENTS Col. FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME ..................................................................................................................... 1 Drug Deaths .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Covid-19 (Personal Protective Equipment) .................................................................................................. 5 Climate Targets ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Covid-19 (Business Support) ...................................................................................................................... 11 Malicious Prosecutions (Inquiry) ................................................................................................................. 12 Psychiatric Hospitals (Discharge Delays) ................................................................................................... 13 Removal of Dental Charges ....................................................................................................................... 14 ScotRail Strike Action ................................................................................................................................. 14 Asylum Seekers (Glasgow City Council) .................................................................................................... 15 Accident Prevention Messaging (Water Safety) ......................................................................................... 16 Eating Disorder Services (Children and Young People) ............................................................................ 16 Scottish Qualifications Authority (Non-submission of Grades) ................................................................... 17 United Kingdom and Australia Free Trade Deal ......................................................................................... 18 Breast Cancer Screening (Self-referral) ..................................................................................................... 18 Autism Assessments (NHS Fife) ................................................................................................................ 19 Travel Restrictions (Impact on Tourism) .................................................................................................... 19 PORTFOLIO QUESTION TIME ............................................................................................................................. 21 JUSTICE .......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Sentencing Policy (Assault on Emergency Workers) ................................................................................. 21 Prosecution System .................................................................................................................................... 22 Violence Against Women ........................................................................................................................... 24 Victim Support ............................................................................................................................................ 25 Victims’ Mental Health (Effect of Trial Delays) ........................................................................................... 27 Cashback for Communities (East Lothian) ................................................................................................. 28 Age of Criminal Responsibility .................................................................................................................... 29 Police Scotland (Officer and Staff Numbers) .............................................................................................. 30 PROVISIONAL OUTTURN 2020-21 ..................................................................................................................... 33 Statement—[Tom Arthur]. The Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth (Tom Arthur) ...................................... 33 LAW OFFICERS ................................................................................................................................................ 44 Motion moved—[Nicola Sturgeon]—and agreed to. The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon) ........................................................................................................... 44 Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con) ............................................................................................ 46 Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) ...................................................................................... 50 Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) ........................................................................................................... 51 DRUG-RELATED DEATHS .................................................................................................................................. 53 Motion moved—[Angela Constance]. Amendment moved—[Sue Webber]. Amendment moved—[Claire Baker]. Amendment moved—[Gillian Mackay]. Amendment moved—[Alex Cole—Hamilton]. The Minister for Drugs Policy (Angela Constance) .................................................................................... 53 Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) ...................................................................................................................... 58 Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 61 Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green) ................................................................................................. 64 Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) .......................................................................................... 66 Stephanie Callaghan (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) ............................................................................. 69 Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) ......................................................................................................... 71 Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) ...................................................................................................... 74 Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 76 Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) ..................................................................... 79 Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) ....................................................................................................................... 81 Collette Stevenson (East Kilbride) (SNP) ................................................................................................... 84 Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab) ........................................................................................................... 87 Alex Cole-Hamilton ..................................................................................................................................... 89 Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) ...................................................................................... 92 Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab) ................................................................................................................ 94 Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con) ..................................................................................................................... 96 Angela Constance ...................................................................................................................................... 99 POINT OF ORDER ........................................................................................................................................... 103 PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU MOTION ................................................................................................................. 104 Motion moved—[George Adam]. DECISION TIME .............................................................................................................................................. 106 1 17 JUNE 2021 2 hearing more later this afternoon about what the Scottish Parliament Government will bring forward, because although the new standards that Angela Constance has Thursday 17 June 2021 already set out will be an important move in the right direction, they are not game changing. They [The Presiding Officer opened the meeting at are the basics; they are the very least that the 12:00] Government should do. People on the front line in the hardest-hit First Minister’s Question Time communities have been here before. They are hearing the same promises and warm words, but The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone): at the same time are seeing their families, friends Good afternoon. I remind members that social and neighbours dying from drug abuse. All they distancing measures are in place in the chamber hear is