Minutes: 14 November 2023

1. Declaration of interests:

Ruth Maguire was invited to declare any relevant interests and indicated she had nothing to declare.

2. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.

3. Public health impact of vaping:

The Committee took evidence from—

Professor Emily Banks, Head, Centre of Epidemiology for Policy and Practice, Australian National University and Visiting Professor, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford;

Professor John Britton, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology, University of Nottingham;

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive, ASH Scotland;

Dr Garth Reid, Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Scotland.

Emma Harper declared an interest as a Co-Convener of the Cross-Party Parliamentary Group on Lung Health.

Sandesh Gulhane declared an interest as a practising NHS GP.

4. Public health impact of vaping (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3.

The Committee agreed to consider a draft letter to the Scottish Government on vaping policy at a future meeting.