Order, order

We now move to a Stage 2 Vote on amendments submitted for SB186, the Prescription Charges (Scotland) (Repeal) Bill

Members are reminded to vote For, Against, or Abstain for each amendment proposed. Attempts to 'stylise' votes by adding extra words will result in a member's vote being considered a DNV. In cases were there is a genuine mix up with another system (eg. Aye/No/Abstain) the vote will be taken as a clear expression of preference.

Prescription Charges (Scotland) (Repeal) Bill 2021

An act to disestablish prescription charges as a method of revenue for the National Health Service in Scotland, and to repeal related legislation.

Section 1: Definitions

(1) For the purposes of this Act, “prescriptions” means prescribed medicine or services as prescribed by a General Practitioner within a General Medical Services contract with the National Health Service.

Section 2: Repeals

(1) The Prescription Charges (Scotland) Act 2020 (2020 asp 29) is hereby repealed.

(2) The National Health Service (Prescription Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (SSI 2020/14) is hereby struck.

Section 3: Banishment of Fees

(1) From the point in which this act comes into force, and unless this act is repealed, the National Health Service, and/or the Cabinet Secretary, shall have no power to make regulations, or take any other actions, to allow or force the payment of prescription charges.

(2) From the point in which this act comes into force, and unless this act is repealed, the National Health Service, and/or the Cabinet Secretary, shall have no power to make regulations, or take any other actions, to allow or force the payment of any fees related to prescriptions.

Section 4: Short Title

(1) This Act may be cited as the Prescription Charges (Scotland) (Repeal) Act 2021 Section 5: Commencement

(1) This Act shall come into force within 21 days of it gaining Royal Assent.

This bill was written by the [The Most Noble Duke of Abercorn KCT KP MVO MBE PC MSP](www.reddit.com/u/comped), the First Minister of Scotland, and submitted on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Opening speech:

Presiding Officer,

The time has come. I made a promise that I would write and put on the docket a bill abolishing prescription charges in Scotland, and I have done so. This bill will rectify a wrong that my party opposes, and that has clearly caused pain, financially, for many in Scotland. We did not need prescription charges - if we did, then why does the act say that “NHS Boards may decide what they want to do with money gained from prescription charges”? They’re not covering costs of procurement with these charges, they’re not spending the money on things related to prescriptions. I get it, having a bit of money to spend on what’s needed is good and all, but that’s why we have taxes and allocate funding during the budgetary process. We do not need to charge people for their prescriptions when that money needed to pay for the drugs should already be able to be afforded by the NHS.

Further, this will allow the vast number of people who were on the bubble - those who weren’t exempted from paying, and could likely afford the few pounds per prescription (or perhaps not in the grand scheme of things). A few pounds here and there adds up over time, and for those who are otherwise on a tight income, but not qualifying for an exemption, and who need a consistent source of medication, it adds up. Enough that I am no longer comfortable with having this scheme go on any longer. I can perceive no benefit in terms of charging for prescriptions that is not outweighed by having people pay for them when they already contribute taxes to the NHS that go to funding the contracts which are made to purchase the drugs - one might literally say that people are paying twice over for the same drugs. I cannot stand by and let that happen, so I have put this bill forward to correct the error that has been allowed to stand for so long. I hope you will all agree with me and pass this bill without amendment in short order.

Thank you.

Amendments As follows

AO1 - submitted by u/Frost_Walker2017

Strike Section 5(1) and replace with:

(1) This Act comes into force two months after Royal Assent

(a) Scottish Ministers may, by order, delay the Act coming into force by up to two months, for a maximum of six months delay from the initial commencement.

Voting on these amendments ends at the close of Business on February 6th, at 10pm BST.