THE Scottish Government will consent to UK-wide legislation aimed at curbing smoking and vaping, a minister has confirmed.
Public health minister Jenni Minto said the Government will shortly bring forward a legislative consent memorandum, which allows Westminster to pass laws in what are usually devolved areas.
The UK-wide legislation will mean youngsters born on or after January 1, 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes.
READ MORE: Scottish stars demand end to Israeli arms exports in letter to UK Government
It also includes new powers to regulate the display, contents, flavours and packaging of vapes and nicotine products.
The Scottish Government also intends to ban the sale of single-use vapes from April 1, 2025.
Updating MSPs on Tuesday, Minto (below) said smoking rates are at an all-time low but there has recently been a “notable increase” in young people using vapes.
She said: “As the bill makes provisions which will be within the competence of this Scottish Parliament, we will shortly be bringing forward a legislative consent memorandum for consideration by this Parliament.”
There is “overwhelming support” for the ban on single-use vapes, she said, with a further consultation taking place in April.
READ MORE: New UK fund could revive Scotland to Europe ferry 'very soon', MP argues
The minister said there would be a wider package of measures to reduce vaping and hit the 2034 target for a tobacco-free Scotland.
Minto told MSPs: “These measures are central to our framework and represent an opportunity to make a significant generational impact on the future health of Scotland.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel