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There are a number of ways in which people can cease smoking. I am pleased that figures out just today show an increase in the number of people who are using cessation services in the NHS in Scotland. I think that the figure is now over 30,000, which is back to pre-pandemic levels, which is really positive.

There are a variety of approaches and treatments that people can use to stop smoking. Linda Bauld is the expert on that, so I will bring her in.

That provision of the legislation that will be repealed is specific to Scotland. We had consulted and taken advice from other organisations, including ASH Scotland, which felt that it was not appropriate to criminalise someone’s addiction to nicotine or tobacco. That is why that aspect of the legislation will be repealed. As I say, we are the only nation of the four UK nations to have that provision. There is absolutely no change to the legislation in relation to proxy buying for underage people or in relation to retailers selling to underage people. The legislation will change only to remove criminalisation of under 18s.

I am delighted to be here to provide evidence on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill LCM, which was lodged in our Parliament on 21 November.

I am sure that, like me, committee members were disappointed when the previous version of the bill fell at the dissolution of the UK Parliament. However, I tend to think that things happen for a reason, and the reason in this case was the opportunity to create a stronger bill.

I remain committed to a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034, which, at its core, has the aim of Scotland being a nation where people live longer and healthier lives. This UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help us to achieve that.

Although smoking rates have reduced in recent years, people are still taking up smoking. Cancer Research UK estimates that around 350 people start smoking tobacco each day, with the vast majority of those—nine out of 10—starting before the age of 21, and with people living in our most deprived areas being most likely to start.

The bill is about stopping that start—it is about creating a generational change, meaning that those born after 1 January 2009 will never legally be able to buy tobacco. The bill will gradually increase the age of sale for tobacco products and provide powers to legislate on vape flavours, displays and packaging, as well as introducing an advertising ban for vapes and nicotine products.

This landmark legislation will ban vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately promoted and advertised to children, to stop the next generation becoming hooked on nicotine. The bill will provide powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to certain outdoor settings, subject to full consultation. If passed, with the consent of the Scottish Parliament, the bill will benefit public health in Scotland and help to save lives.

As I have indicated, the bill also helps to take forward actions in our tobacco and vaping framework. We have worked closely and collaboratively with the UK Government and with other devolved Governments on the bill, and have absolutely ensured that the bill works for Scotland and will deliver impactful change.

Colleagues around the table will remember back to the time before the 2006 indoor smoking ban or to a time when tobacco was advertised and openly displayed in shops. Before legislative changes came into effect, it was hard to think of life without a smoking area in a restaurant or without a racing car covered in red and white or black and gold. We could only dream of such things not existing. It is now hard to think of a world where that would be acceptable.

This bill, like the legislation before it, creates that break with the status quo and provides the opportunity to do something impactful for the next generation, with tobacco, specifically, becoming something that is relegated to history. We have the opportunity for future generations in Scotland to learn about tobacco from books and not to experience its devastating consequences. I therefore recommend that the Scottish Parliament consents to the legislative consent memorandum.

I thank Brian Whittle for his question, and I recognise the picture that he painted at the start of it. When I visited a school in my constituency, I was pretty shocked to see the handful of disposable vapes that a teacher produced. Therefore, I absolutely understand where Mr Whittle is coming from.

I agree that we need to improve enforcement, which is why we, as a Government, have a very good and close working relationship with the local authorities. In answer to Gillian Mackay’s question I indicated that we are investing £3 million directly in local authorities to support enforcement, and we also have an important working relationship with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland. Moreover, we already have fixed penalty notices in place. The important message that will be sent with the passing of this bill and the additional UK-wide regulations on displaying vapes will, I hope, help with enforcement, too.

That is still our intention, but, given the current financial climate, we have been focusing on ensuring that we can stabilise dentistry in Scotland and that we have the right workforce. That commitment is still our intention.

As I highlighted, we have allocated £0.5 billion to dentistry in the 2025-26 budget, which is a 33 per cent increase during this session of Parliament. If the Scottish Government had simply allocated Barnett consequentials, the amount would have been about £300 million, which would have left a shortfall. That emphasises the importance that we put on investing in dental health in Scotland.

I can speak only from my experience of having visited a couple of public dental services. They are being innovative in the work that they do, such as providing the anaesthesia to do operations or extractions in a non-theatre location. They are looking at what they can do. A number of questions have been asked in the chamber about how we retain university graduates in NHS dentistry services, and we are looking at how we can provide support to encourage people to join the PDS.

That is a really important point, and I am happy to take it away and consider it. I agree that we have to work closely with third sector organisations that support health settings. I will take that point away, and we will add it to the work that we need to do on access, specifically for young children.

Yes.

I thank Paul Sweeney for that question, as I recognise the picture that he is painting. We have to recognise, though, that dental practices are businesses, and dentists can make the decisions that they feel are appropriate in order to run them. However, my team and I are absolutely focused on ensuring that we put the right investment into the right places in NHS dentistry in Scotland to ensure that people do not have to make that very difficult choice.