26th
November 2007
Just who’s in charge? – Committees’
Bid to Uncover Ministerial Responsibility for Drug Abused Children
Holyrood’s Local Government and
Communities Committee Convener, Duncan McNeil, is joining his counterparts from
the Health and Justice Committees to grill three Cabinet Secretaries over
government expenditure on drug and alcohol abuse.
Deputy
First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon;
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney; and Cabinet
Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, will all appear before a special joint
evidence session of the main committees whose remits cover drug and alcohol
policy.
Mr
McNeil says Ministers have avoided his questions over who is responsible
for protecting the children of drug abusers and have rebuffed his calls for one
Minister to take the lead in driving forward the necessary action.
He
said:
“The
very fact that we have had to call three Cabinet Secretaries to give evidence at
the same time underlines the problem – questions of tackling drug abuse go
across key government departments and no-one is taking the lead.
“The
Ministers won’t even answer my questions.
“In
his closing speech in the debate on drugs misuse on 6th September
2007, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice assured me that the points I raised
about child protection would be discussed with the Cabinet Secretary for
Education and Lifelong Learning, adding, ‘we have to ensure a holistic and
joined-up approach.’
“At
Justice and Law Officers Questions on Thursday 27th September 2007, I
asked the Justice Secretary what had been discussed to date and what action had
been agreed. But he had no details
of progress made or action taken to report.
“Therefore,
on 17th October, I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and
Wellbeing, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Cabinet
Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, asking exactly what meetings
have taken place between them. I
also asked all three what progress had been made towards designating a lead
Cabinet Minister to co-ordinate and drive forward the necessary action.
“Needless
to say, not one of them has replied.
“I’ve
waited long enough for answers to these important questions, and expect the
Ministers to appear before us on Wednesday with something more to say than the
same complacent platitudes.”
ENDS
Back to Current Press Releases
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Report to the People ] [ Interact ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ Directgov ] [ Scottish Parliament ]