Dave Thompson MSP

“The only motive that can keep politics pure is the motive of doing good for one's country and its people”, wrote Henry Ford. Although he was writing in a different era, to a different audience, for a different purpose, I could not agree with Mr Ford more wholeheartedly.

If Henry Ford were to change ‘country’ to ‘council’ then his words could almost be called prophetic because, last week, the men and women who won our votes for Highland Council on 3rd May put aside party politics to pursue the good of Highland people. I congratulate each counsellor on winning their seat, and I commend the newly formed coalition of SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat counsellors. Unity for the sake of progress is often lacking in politics but Highland Council has bucked the trend which will no doubt stand them in good stead for the next five years.

Political unity is immensely valued on the national stage too, and in recent  months the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have supported the SNP’s bid to tackle excessive alcohol consumption with the Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill. Sadly we are still to see the Labour party supporting the Bill, but we live in hope. The purpose of this unity is the good of the country, because there are few issues as detrimental to communities or as costly to the welfare state in Scotland as excessive alcohol consumption.

The latest figures estimate that excessive alcohol consumption costs Scotland £3.56 billion a year in NHS, policing and unemployment costs, which is £900 per adult whether you live in Mallaig or Morar, in Glenfinnan or Glenuig, in Arisaig or Eigg. This money could be better spent on improving or providing local services, for which I am constantly pressing.  Last November, the Scottish Government published the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill as an effective and an efficient way to reduce alcohol consumption and the damage that so often accompanies it.

It is not tourists, or responsible drinkers who will be affected by the minimum price. Instead, the legislation will target heavy drinkers and young drinkers who go for cheap, poor quality alcohol. The minimum price will only affect cheap high strength drinks, like low-priced vodkas and ciders. In fact, most wines are already priced comfortably above the minimum price proposal of £4.13. The products that tourists generally buy when visiting the west coast, such as single malts, branded whiskies and Scottish beers, are all currently priced well above the minimum price threshold which puts a dram at 50pence.

Fatalities, injuries and violence are just a few of the ways that excessive alcohol consumption hurts our local communities and I’m sure we have all seen and experienced the pain and heartache that excessive consumption can cause. The affordability of alcohol has risen dramatically by 20% in the last ten years and imposing a minimum price on cheap booze will primarily target the heavy drinkers who cause most harm and the young drinkers who are harming themselves and society.

Last week I met local GPs from across the Highlands, including a doctor in Fort William, to discuss health care in rural and remote areas. We discussed the matter in the light of the centenary of the Dewar Report, which was published in 1912 to highlight the health care needs of the Highlands. Recent developments in Acharacle have brought the matter of supporting doctors in rural areas to the fore and I suggested that the Government meet with Highland GPs to discuss plans for another Dewar Report, this time highlighting the needs of health services in rural and remote areas in 2012. I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Nicola Sturgeon to make this suggestion and by the time this article is published, I imagine I will have received a reply and can pursue the matter with Highland GPs.