Highland MSP Maree Todd made minister responsible for tackling Scotland’s soaring drugs deaths in First Minister John Swinney’s ‘modest’ reshuffle
An SNP Highland MSP has been handed one of the toughest briefs in the Scottish Government – minister for drugs and alcohol policy.
First Minister John Swinney made the announcement about the “modest” reshuffle as Chancellor Rachel Reeves was delivering the spending review in Westminster.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd will now be in charge of getting the country’s out of control drug deaths down.
She was the minister for social care, mental wellbeing and sport, and will retain sport while Tom MacArthur takes on social care and mental wellbeing.
The change comes after the death of Christina McKelvie in March, who had been the minister for drugs and alcohol policy.
Ms Todd arrives in post at a time when Scotland retains the unwanted record of having the worst drug-related deaths in Europe.
While numbers are down 14 per cent last year, there appears to have been a spike of 33 per cent in the first three months of this year.
Previously, as public health minister, she introduced minimum unit pricing which has conflicting reports about its effectiveness in reducing harms from drinking.
It has been criticised because the government does not retain the extra money to, for example, support NHS alcohol services – it is retained by whoever sells the drink.
In another major change, Màiri McAllan has been made cabinet secretary for housing – raising the brief to cabinet level as Humza Yousaf did with transport.
Mr Swinney said: “Following the sad passing of Christina McKelvie, I have asked Maree Todd to take on responsibility for drugs and alcohol policy.
“This government has shown it is not afraid to take bold measures to prevent harm and death, and we must redouble our efforts.”
