The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 759 contributions
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities and with the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland on that. We invest about £3 million into that work and also £50,000 to ensure that we have that relationship.
One of the important things about the bill is the fact that it is across the four nations. The UK Government has invested £100 million over five years to support HM Revenue and Customs and border control to ensure that we can reduce the amount of illicit products coming in.
Enforcement is important and that is the work that we continue to do and have great conversations about with local authorities. We also have the register of tobacco and nicotine vapour product retailers in Scotland, which helps us. It includes every retailer that sells cigarettes and other nicotine products, so we can get that information from them as well.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
That is a very good question. I will hand over to Ruth Foulis.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
The focus of our work over the next 10 years—or nine years, because it is a year since it was launched—is on the tobacco and vaping framework, which looks towards a tobacco-free Scotland in 2034. The UK legislation came in as we were developing our framework, and the Scottish Government has been very pleased to support it because we believe that it moves not only Scotland, but the entire UK, into the ballpark of aiming to be tobacco and vape free in 2034.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
That is correct. Clause 60 of the bill sets out that the meaning of “nicotine product” includes
“nicotine, or any substance containing nicotine, which is intended to be delivered into the human body”
but we still need ways of providing cessation products for people who wish to cease smoking.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
There are lot of questions wound up in that. I go back to the development that we are currently doing on the register of tobacco and vape products. That involves changing a platform, which will become a much more useful tool for putting out information to retailers and for getting information back from retailers. The register is really important.
As with any change in regulation, if the bill goes through, we will need to work closely with retailers and have those conversations to ensure that they know about the legislation. That is absolutely key to making this work.
With regard to ensuring that parents are aware of the impacts of tobacco and vaping, I have already highlighted project youth, also known as the Icelandic model, which has had amazing results in improving the health of younger people. In Scotland, at the beginning of this year, we had the take hold campaign, which was specifically aimed at parents and carers to ensure that they understand the impact of vaping on young people’s health. I was really pleased that women’s football used the advert at their cup final at Tynecastle, which pushed it out to an audience that needs to be aware of the impacts.
I also refer to the answers that I gave to Mr FitzPatrick and Mr Whittle—education through curriculum for excellence ensures that children understand the impacts of things on their health.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
The retail side is handled through our register, which I talked about earlier and which includes shops that stock vapes. With regard to spaces and where people can vape, as I said, we will consult on that once the bill has passed. With regard to displays and flavours, there is UK-wide legislation on that, and we will work with the UK Government on its implementation.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
As I said in my opening remarks, between 80 and 90 per cent of people who start smoking do so before they are 21. From my perspective, it is important to recognise that and to recognise the importance of prevention before people start. You raise really important points about the recognition of products. If you go into anywhere that sells tobacco, the grey blinds are pulled down and you cannot see the products. With vapes, there is basically a rainbow of colours and flavours that are very attractive to young people. Evidence would show that flavours such as candy floss, gummy bear and watermelon are there to attract children. That is why it is so important to have UK-wide legislation, because it gives consistency across the four nations for consumers and for retailers.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
There is currently a need for people to confirm their age when they are buying products if the retailer is at all concerned, so that is something that is accepted. The point—which I have made before—is that between 80 and 90 per cent of people who start smoking do so when they are under 20, so by the time the legislation moves through, if it is successful, it is clear that there will be fewer people starting to smoke.
I go back to the point that the legislation is here to help us stop the start, and that is a strong message that everyone should recognise.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
I am sorry, Dr Gulhane—I lost the train of that question.
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Jenni Minto
Snus has been banned since 1992.