First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 21 November 2024.
Lorna Slater
Green
In Scotland, there are more than 10,000 deaths a year as a direct result of alcohol, tobacco and obesity. Minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Scotland reduces the harms from cheap booze, but at present it is supermarkets and large retailers that profit from the increased price of alcohol, while our national health service is struggling. That is why the Scottish Greens, when we were in Government, secured a commitment to reintroduce a levy on retailers who profit from the sale of alcohol and tobacco, which would help to fund NHS services.
Can the First Minister confirm whether his Government still supports a public health levy, and whether it will be included in the draft budget when that is published in two weeks’ time?
John Swinney
Scottish National Party
Those issues are very important, and Lorna Slater raises an important question about the impact of tobacco and alcohol misuse on the health of the population. The Government has taken significant action in relation to minimum unit pricing, and we will continue to focus on measures to tackle this significant issue.
As to the question of a public health supplement, that will be considered as part of the budget process. Of course, I am not at liberty to comment on those issues until the budget comes to Parliament in December.
Lorna Slater
Green
This week, an alliance of 24 Scottish health organisations have backed the Scottish Greens’ calls for a public health levy in this year’s budget, and polling shows that a Majority of the public support it, too. The Fraser of Allander Institute estimates that a levy could raise as much as £57 million a year—money that could pay for smoking cessation programmes, breastfeeding support in communities or increased screening programmes for cancer.
Why, therefore, does the First Minister equivocate on the matter? He has had a whole year in which to design and consult on a new public health levy, so why is it not ready to be introduced now? How will the First Minister respond to organisations calling for its urgent roll-out?
John Swinney
Scottish National Party
I point out to Lorna Slater that the Government already has in place higher business taxes on larger retailers. That is a source of great controversy, but we have it in place already, which takes into account some of the issues that Lorna Slater raises with me.
Lorna Slater also has to accept that I cannot disclose today the contents of a Government budget that has not yet been finalised. It will be finalised a week on Wednesday. It will be set out to Parliament and there will then be an opportunity for Parliament to debate those issues.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
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