PDE Column, 13th October 2008 – Selling Alcohol to Under 18’s, Free School Meals, World Psoriasis Day

Rogue Retailers Selling Alcohol to Under 18’s

I am acutely aware that a key concern in Renfrewshire and across Scotland is the problems caused by underage drinking. This is made worse by a minority of rogue retailers selling alcohol to under-18s.

To my dismay and anger I have discovered that in the past five years, not one retailer across the whole of Renfrewshire has had their licence for selling alcohol suspended or revoked. Yet we know that many under 18s find it easy to buy drink locally.

It’s time for more decisive action to be taken. I believe that any retailer who sells alcohol to children should know they will lose their licence and such rogue retailers should be ‘named and shamed’. I am calling for shops who sell alcohol to under-agers to automatically lose their licence, initially for three months. Successive offences would lead to a permanent ban.

We need a licensing system that respects those who obey the law and punishes those who do not. The majority of anti social behaviour incidents are alcohol fuelled. The most important step is tough enforcement against those who are currently breaking the law by selling to underage children – it must be central to any strategy.

There are over 150 local retailers in Renfrewshire who are licensed to sell alcohol. If you know of one who is breaking the law please tell the police (0141 532 5900) or contact my office. I am writing to the Convenor of the Licensing Board and the Chair of the Renfrewshire Licensing Forum, calling for tougher action. My campaign is for them to use the powers they have to withdraw a licence. I am asking the local police to step up their efforts to identify and prosecute those selling to underage youngsters.

Taking action against the harm that alcohol causes should be a priority and this is a practical measure that will show selling to children will not be tolerated in Renfrewshire

Free Schools Meal for Primary 1 to Primary 3

There is no doubt that that the idea of providing free school meals for all Primary 1 to Primary 3 pupils is a nice thought but how can Councils already struggling to make financial ends meet do this without extra funding from the Scottish Government?

The cost of providing free school meals to every child in Primary 1, 2 and 3 could be up to £50 million every year. SNP Ministers are not giving local councils the money to pay for this policy.

Local councils have hit out against the failure to properly fund the plan, which they say will lead to cuts in vital services unless more money is provided.

After Minister Fiona Hyslop’s announcement it soon emerged that 16 councils – nearly half the councils in Scotland – said they need extra resources to provide free school meals for primary 1,2, and 3 including four councils that are either SNP run or SNP coalitions. Only 3 councils out of 32 declared they could afford it and the rest were investigating their financial position.

At the time of writing this Renfrewshire Council is still towing the SNP party line and not publicly declaring they would need extra funds – but considering the £4.5 Education budget cuts this year and the £6 million plus intended for 2009-2010 this beggars belief.

World Psoriasis Day

As I write this column it is World Psoriasis Day. In the Parliament an event is being held to mark this.

Psoriasis is a condition that affects many thousands of Scots, at least 5%. Sometimes the symptoms are relatively minor, like flaking of the skin, although even this can be very embarrassing. Some with the condition experience far worse symptoms such as arthritis and circulatory disorders.

Despite it being a very common disorder, psoriasis is under-researched and misconceptions abound. Many patients complain that their symptoms are treated far too lightly by the medical profession and that they are stigmatised when appearing in public places.

For support and advice phone The Psoriasis Association on 0845 676 0076