Extract from Topical
Question Time
Christine Grahame
(Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Given the concerning rise in cases of Covid, would the cabinet
secretary encourage supermarkets
and shops to reinstate hand sanitisers and trolley wiping
stations, many of which have been removed?
(Cabinet Secretary for NHS
Recovery, Health and Social Care)
As I said earlier, given that we are no longer in a global
pandemic, we are now taking a proportionate approach to dealing
with Covid-19. It should be treated in the same way as other
viral infections that occur throughout the course of the year;
the monitoring and surveillance arrangements that we have in
place are appropriate to that.
It is for individuals to choose whether to use hand sanitiser,
and some establishments might wish to continue providing that,
but there is no longer any direct requirement for them to do so
as there was during the lockdown arrangements that we had
previously.
Extract from debate on
Food and Drink Sector
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk
East) (SNP): ...The ever-rising tide of brand
Scotland, in which the banner of the saltire was carried on our
Scottish-grown and manufactured products, gave confidence and led
to a huge growth in the numbers of small artisan producers and
the diversification of farms. Their products were seized by
consumers accessing them through the growing number of farmers
markets and farm shops, and then they were seized by the ultimate
marketing machines: the supermarkets.
I remember the days when the likes of Tesco
had huge saltires painted on the outside of their walls and
pictures of real farmers smiling into the camera hanging up in
their stores. Tesco
better than anyone recognised the marketing potency and power of
that combination: the hard-working, quality-driven farmer for
Scotland with a worldwide reputation for high standards of
welfare and stockmanship. It was a marketing dream to be
capitalised on. Multiple products were given the brand mark,
including all our meat products, our game, our dairy products and
even our tablet and shortbread. Scotland’s food and drink spoke
of provenance and quality.
Extract from Scottish
Parliament: Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
(Central Scotland)
(Green)
Is work under way on putting vapes behind covers, as currently
happens with cigarettes? One of the biggest concerns that we are
hearing from parents is about the pervasiveness of the products,
especially in shops. They can be reached by toddlers, because
they are on the ends of aisles in some shops. If that was
happening with cigarettes, we would rightly be outraged: vapes
contain the same addictive ingredient. Is consideration being
given to putting vapes behind covers?
Jenni Minto (Minister for
Public Health and Women's Health)
As you will know, the tobacco action plan will come out this
autumn, and it absolutely will consider vapes and where they are
in shops. As you have, I have heard stories about the experiences
of mothers in supermarkets,
where vapes are at eye level for children and have bright colours
that attract them. We are very aware of that situation, and it
will be covered in the tobacco action plan.
