David Mundell

BIG Plastic Count

OVER recent years we have all become more aware of the scale of the problem caused by disposable plastics and the harm they cause to the environment and to wildlife in particular.

Documentaries such as the Blue Planet brought home to millions of us the effects of plastics and an upsurge in interest in how to deal with it.

Since then, a number of measures have been taken, including placing restrictions on the supply of single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds, and a tax of £200 per tonne on plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into, the UK that does not contain at least 30 per cent recycled plastic.

But there’s much more needs done and at an individual level we can take action too. That’s why, along with an estimated 100,000 others across the UK, I was pleased to take part in this year’s Big Plastic Count.

This national survey of plastic waste ran between March 11-17 and saw households gather evidence about the extent of the UK’s plastic waste problem.

Although the results of this nationwide effort won’t be known until next month, I was surprised at the number of items I recorded over the week.

It goes to show the further progress which needs to be made on this issue and I hope the Great Plastic Count can help drive that forward.

Migraine treatment

I had the opportunity last week to chair a debate in the House of Commons on the subject of access to migraine treatment.

Many people think a migraine is ‘just a headache’, but for the some 10 million people in the UK who it is estimated live with this debilitating condition, it is far more than that.

The Migraine Trust believes that people in the UK lose a total of 43 million days from their work and education each year because of migraine.

Research has found that 60 per cent of people with migraine feel it has significantly impacted on their relationship

with their partner or spouse, and 71 per cent of people with migraine feel it has significantly affected their mental health.

Migraine patients need access to the best possible treatment, and I was glad that, in his response to the debate, the minister said he would be happy to look into concerns around access to treatment, adding that the government is committed to reducing waiting lists and investing in research and new treatments to ensure real results are delivered for patients.

Drug deaths

SCOTLAND’S drugs epidemic continues to claim the lives of people across the country.

Figures released last week showed that in the Lothian and Borders police division, there were 118 suspected drugs deaths last year which is the highest number in any of the last seven years.

It should be a source of concern for all of us that, despite Scotland already having by far the worst drug fatality rate in Europe, the number of deaths is on the rise again.

And it must be a wake-up call to Scottish Government ministers that they need to finally support a Right to Recovery Bill.

It is backed by frontline experts and would enshrine in law the right to treatment for all those suffering with addiction locally and across the country.