ALCOHOL COMMISSION IS LEGISLATIVE LONG GRASS

ALCOHOL COMMISSION IS LEGISLATIVE LONG GRASS
As Labour announce their alcohol commission which will not report until after the passage of the Scottish Government’s Alcohol bill through Parliament and will not report in time for any action to be taken prior to the May 2011 election SNP MSP and Health Committee member Michael Matheson condemned their refusal to engage with Parliament and urged the Commission to be open to all evidence, including in favour of minimum pricing.

Mr Matheson raised key questions for Labour to answer and highlighted contradictions in the position of members of the Commission.

Mr Matheson set out the following questions for Labour

• Will Labour’s Commission consider submissions in favour of minimum pricing?
• Why have they established a Commission that will report after the Alcohol Bill completes its passage through Parliament?
• Will Labour members fully consider evidence given to the health committee?
• Will the Commission consider the evidence given to the health committee?
• Did Labour invite any medical professionals including former Chief Medical Officers, senior doctors or nurses to participate?
• How many Commission members are members of the Labour party

Looking at the Commission’s membership Mr Matheson highlighted that the Chair is a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, an organisation which backs minimum pricing and that two of the members are former Labour politicians.

Mr Matheson said:
“This Commission is nothing more than long grass for Labour as they play politics with a deadly serious issue.
“Their problem is they know minimum pricing is a key measure in tackling the problem but as a result of petty politics they are refusing to acknowledge the evidence or to do their jobs as MSPs.

“If Labour were serious about tackling the problems we face with alcohol they would engage with the Health Committee, listen to the evidence and use the Parliamentary process to make their points.

“The members of this Commission all have a lot to offer but the panel is sadly lacking in impartial medical expertise.
“Unfortunately for Labour the chair of their Committee is a member of an organisation that backs minimum pricing and has stated that she will listen to the evidence. I trust Labour will allow Professor Brown to consider minimum pricing.

“Similarly I trust the support of Strathclyde Police for minimum pricing will also be heard.
“It is essential that politicians take decisions on alcohol policy based on public health not party politics.”