SNP leadership race: Your questions answered

As the race to become the next First Minister nears its final week - the candidates have been answering questions about your priorities.

Absolute Radio put your questions to the SNP leadership candidates, who are hoping to replace Nicola Sturgeon.

Our Political Editor Alan Smith sat down with Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes, who told us how they' would fix Scotland's roads, schools and tackle the drugs deaths crisis.

Drugs deaths and right to rehab

Suspected drug deaths in Scotland have reached their highest recorded number in a single calendar quarter since 2021.

On Tuesday (14th March 2023), the Scottish Government published the quarterly report into suspected drug deaths in the country using Police Scotland management data.

There were 1,092 suspected drug deaths in the whole of 2022 - 203, or 16%, fewer than the whole of 2021, according to official data.

But 295 of these suspected deaths occurred in the final quarter of the year - from October to December 2022. This was 60 more - or 26% - than the previous quarter

Meanwhile the Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has proposed a bill on a legal right to rehab in a bid to tackle the drug death crisis.

We asked the candidates if they would back the bill.

Kate Forbes: Drug death figures "shames all of us"

On the drug death toll in Scotland, Kate Forbes said the number of drug related deaths is "outrageous" and "it shames all of us that those figures are so high".

But what would she do to tackle the issue?

The Finance Secretary said: "I think it starts with those that are on the frontline, providing support to those who are in need of that support. I think it can't be a top down approach. By that I mean, it can't be government determining a policy, that is one size fits all.

"We need to support the charities that are working on the front line, to provide the right kind of support to every individual."

Ms Forbes said: "It'll be different kinds of support that individuals need, some will need rehab, and therefore we need to invest in more rehab beds. Some will need access to health care provision, and we need to make sure that there aren't long waiting times, some will need other forms of support, particularly linked to poverty."

She added: "We can't just be constantly looking to deal with the symptoms. Those root causes need to be grappled with."

The Finance secretary also told Absolute Radio she would back Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross' bill, to introduce a legal right to rehabilitation.

Ms Forbes said: "Yes, I'm not averse to that approach. But a legal right needs to be backed up with provision. It's the provision that matters, followed by a legal right to access that provision. And the provision requires funding. So yes, I think people should have the right to access rehab, if that is the right kind of support for them.

"But more than that, we need to have the rehab provision in the first place and safe consumption rooms."

She added: "I think that that also needs to be part of the wider package of support. It can't just be one policy to deal with drug deaths. I think it needs to be a patchwork of different kinds of support so that it's person centred.

Ash Regan calls for more investment in the mutual aid model

The former Community Safety Minister told us: "I read an article by Anne Marie Ward, and she was talking about the mutual aid model. So I don't know if we put in if we're putting enough focus on that model."

"We need to look at investment that we're making into projects like LEAP.

"I think we have a system at the moment, and I'm just going to express the way it's been expressed to me in the past, where people feel that they've been 'parked on methadone'. They feel to go to their GP, they want another route. But the system doesn't seem to be set up to help them to go down a different pathway.

She added: "I think we need to change the culture. I think we need to get to a culture where we believe it's completely normal and acceptable that we can get people off substances. And I'm not sure that we we have that right now."

Although she admits she hasn't seen Douglas Ross' bill for a legal right to rehabilitation, Ms Regan said: "I'd have to look at the detail, but in principle, yes, it sounds like a good idea."

Yousaf: Drugs death "a national mission"

Humza Yousaf described the drug death toll in Scotland as "a stain on our collective conscience."

But how will the Health Secretary do to bring that shockingly high figured down?

Mr Yousaf said: "Tackling the drugs deaths in Scotland is a national mission, and that won't change. And the minister that I appoint, if I am First Minister, will report directly to me. Again, I think that's really important to give it the the priority, which such an issue deserves.

"Secondly, the funding, we should, at the very least be least, not just be committed to the funding that the government has already done, and see where we can go even further."

He adds: "And thirdly, I'd be keen to expand, for example, heroin assisted treatment that we have in Glasgow, how can we expand that to other parts of the country, and some of the work we're doing around alcohol, because we know substance abuse is not simply about the drugs issue."

And on Douglas Ross' right to rehab bill?

Mr Yousaf said he would be keen to work cross-party on the issue: "I do think it's an issue that unites most of the parliament. I don't think it's unreasonable for the government to say we'll wait to be see the detail."

"But I think the principle behind the bill of sound."

Candidates "not persuaded" on Assisted Dying legislation

None of the three SNP leadership candidates seem to be persuaded on assisted dying legislation, which is currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament.

Liam McArthur, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney lodged his a final proposal for the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in September 2022.

The bill would enable competent adults who are terminally ill to be provided at their request with assistance to end their life.

Despite all having reservations about the bill, all three candidates have told Absolute Radio that they would give MSPs a free vote on the issue in parliament, if they are the next First Minister.

Health secretary "still needing to be persuaded"

Humza Yousaf said the issue of assisted dying needs to be "treated with the respect it deserves", but he remains unconvinced by the current legislation making its way through Holyrood.

The Health Secretary said: "I had an uncle, who passed away after a two-and a half year battle with pancreatic cancer, and it was horrible to watch. He was a healthy man of 13 stone, and as per our tradition as Muslims, when he passed away, I was given one of the responsibilities to wash his body and he was 6 stone at the end of it.

"I really saw what a painful impact it had, particularly the latter few months and weeks of his life. So I can completely understand why many people support assisted dying.

"We have to remember this is about people at its centre. So whatever side of the debate people might be on, it's really important, we treat that debate with the dignity it deserves."

But the currently legislation isn't winning over the Health Secretary: "On Liam McArthur's bill, I'm not persuaded by it yet.

"Part of the reason I'm not persuaded is because of the concerns that have been raised, particularly by groups and third sector groups that represent people who have disabilities and other vulnerabilities. They have spoken about their concerns that there maybe aren't enough safeguards, for example, for emotional blackmail."

Mr Yousaf continued: "In fairness to Liam, he is working right across the board across political parties to try to build some sort of consensus. So I'm really interested to see the detail of the bill.

"If I was if I was First Minister, I would love a free vote. I think it has to be given the issue of conscience. This is

Ash Regan "sympathetic to the idea"

The former Community Safety Minister told us she is "sympathetic" to the idea of assisted dying, but still has reservations

Ash Regan said: "One of my Auntie's was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and she was quite young. I think she's was only in her late 40s. And she lasted much longer than the medical advice was at the time. However, towards the end, it was very clear that she was dying, and she was quite distressed. It was very distressing for the family as well. So, I am quite sympathetic to the idea."

But Ms Regan told us she would want significant safeguards in place in any legislation.

She said: "However, I'm also looking at what's happening in Canada right now. And what's happened there is there's been court case after court case, and the individuals that are now able to use that is a much expanded category.

"So I think we need to be careful about how we do this. I think this is the sort of thing that should be a free vote, a conscience vote."

Kate Forbes: "not persuaded of the arguments for legislation"

Kate Forbes told us: I've not been persuaded of the arguments for the the legislation, because I'm particularly exercised by the safeguards that would be in place to ensure that very vulnerable individuals are not in any way subjected to coercion.

"I understand the arguments absolutely understand the absolute need for compassion at end of life, and the fact that people go through excruciating pain. I think that's an argument too to invest, considerably more in palliative care, but I'm not as yet persuaded.

"It's an issue that I followed very closely, I followed the last two bills that were introduced to the Scottish Parliament. And it's also an issue that I've looked at carefully overseas in terms of Oregon, the Netherlands, and it it causes me some concern, that that aren't sufficient safeguards.

"I wouldn't, at the moment be inclined to vote for it. But I'm always willing to listen and debate and discuss with those who may not agree with me."

The Finance Secretary said she wold allow MSPs a free vote on the issue: "I think that this is a perfect example of an issue that has of such profound significance. It needs to be a vote of conscience. It truly is a matter of life and death."

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