A ground-breaking Bill has run into trouble after MSPs sitting on the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee hit Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon with a series of additional questions about the proposed legislation and warned they could not draft their report without answers.
They have also warned Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson that they may need an extension to their deadline.
The Bill contains the controversial proposal to set a minimum price for alcohol, and would also ban drink promotions, let licensing boards raise the age for buying drink from 18 to 21 and introduce a “social responsibility fee” for retailers who sell alcohol.
For large sections of Scotland’s medical profession who support the Bill, the process has already been frustrating, with the Labour Party stating their opposition to minimum pricing, effectively blocking the move.
A spokeswoman for the British Medical Association in Scotland said: “It is unfortunate the majority of members of the health committee went into Stage 1 of the inquiry process with established views and it does not appear the evidence provided has changed the opinions of those who were heavily set against minimum pricing.”
However, she added: “It is important that we get legislation right and whilst we are convinced of the benefits, we hope that this [possible delay] gives us time to help to convince MSPs of all parties of the benefits of taking such a step.”
In a letter to Ms Sturgeon, Christine Grahame, convener of the health committee, says the MSPs are seeking the latest data modelling the impact of minimum pricing and a new study showing how it would affect those on low incomes.
She also asks the Scottish Government to set out the basis for its belief that the policy would be legally compliant.
On the social responsibility fee, she adds that the committee has been “left with no clear evidence on the principles underpinning the levy and is therefore unable to judge how it would operate and whether it would be effective.”
She concludes: “I advise further that the committee is writing concurrently to the Presiding Officer, enclosing this letter, in order to alert members of the Parliamentary Bureau to the possibility that the committee will seek an extension to the deadline for completion of Stage 1.”
Jackie Baillie, health spokeswoman for the Scottish Labour Party, said: “The committee is unable to produce its report because the Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has failed to provide them with basic information about the level at which a minimum price would be set or even whether it is legal.”
“The health lobby will be rightly disappointed about the delays this will mean for the bill and the implementation of those measures which we agree on, such as the need to crack down on irresponsible promotions.”
Ms Grahame told The Herald the committee had often asked for supplementary evidence in the past.
“They are a very good committee and I think they are doing their job properly”, she said.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Sensible drinking must start with sensible pricing and minimum pricing will stop the sale of alcohol at pocket-money prices. This Government is determined to tackle the binge drinking caused by rock-bottom pricing of some alcohol.
“We’ve been working closely with the Health Committee throughout Stage 1 of the Alcohol Bill, providing information requested as it becomes available, and we will continue to do so. We consider minimum pricing is fair, proportionate and necessary to protect public health in Scotland.”
