Emergency Debate: Scots Starving

Starvation and Herald propaganda. Both make you sick.

This story appears in today's Herald:

Starvation contributed to death of 450 Scots

This statistic is a national disgrace. In the developed world 'malnutrition' doesn't exist. Well it does in Scotland. This story requires immediate debate and a real enquiry. It is shameful that Scotland suffers from this third-world problem. Yet the story in today's Herald is buried in the health section.

Credit to Ross Finnie of the SLD for pouncing on the statistics and demanding that the issue be investigated as a "matter of urgency". A self-respecting 'developed' nation would do just that.

Not in Scotland. Why? Just like the oil debate certain facts lend themselves to certain conclusions. Why is it that Scots are dying of starvation if the union is so successful? That's just not the sort of evidence that New Labour want to hear cited in political debate. And so their buddies hide it from public view. One quote used by The Herald lends itself to a certain category of conclusion, namely that people are dying of malnutrition because they are old and are not getting enough help with eating:

Most victims are elderly people, many of whom have conditions that make eating difficult or need help with their meals.

I don't know about you but I'd like to see the statistics. We are given a certain statistic related to people who are diagnosed in hospital and who have died. How many Scots, right now then are suffering from malnutrition? What are the age groups? We can assume most are in and around the West central belt but can we have the information?

The economic crisis and international factors only makes matters worse. We are seeing and will see food-price inflation in the near future. The problems with crop harvesting caused by fires in Russia and problems with supply in other areas will see food-price inflation increase dramatically as the year progresses. Combine this with the coming cuts in local government services and you will conclude that the problem of Scottish malnutrition can only worsen and at a pace. If the pound falls even more, as expected, then cheap imports will no longer be available in supermarkets either. People, this is a serious public health issue which could quickly become extremely worrying. In the US 1 in 7 people can't afford to eat properly and need food stamps. Britain has the same problems of household debt as the US - if not worse.

The alarm must be raised. This issue should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet because it is uncomfortable for unionists. Please consult your politicians immediately on this subject and demand action as soon as possible.