Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 14 September 2023
14 Sep 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Single-use Vapes (Environmental Impact)
I, too, congratulate Gillian Mackay on securing debating time on this vital matter.
Just after the debate began, I received an answer to a written question in which I asked the Scottish Government whether it intended to increase the fines for retailers that sell to under-18s, as has been proposed by the UK Vaping Industry Association. The answer from the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, was no. I hope that the Scottish Government will reconsider that.
By 2021, the number of Scots who smoked had dropped to 11 per cent following legislative changes, including the banning of smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces and the banning of the sale of packs of 10 cigarettes and menthol cigarettes, but there is still a huge issue in many communities, given that 32 per cent of adults in our poorest income quintile smoke, whereas only 6 per cent in the most prosperous quintile do. It is now evident that one nicotine addiction has been replaced by another.
When they entered the market, vapes were said to deliver nicotine while avoiding many of the harmful ingredients in cigarettes, yet scientists are still unclear about the extent of the damage that vapes cause, particularly to children and young adults.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-10284, in the name of Gillian Mackay, on the environmental impact of single-use vapes. ...
Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green)
Green
I recognise the strength of feeling on the issue in the Parliament and I thank everyone who will contribute today. The fact that we are so tight on time is h...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome this important debate, and I thank my colleague Gillian Mackay for bringing it to the chamber. The motion for the debate and Gillian Mackay’s openi...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to contribute to the debate. I congratulate Gillian Mackay on securing the debate and acknowledge her work in this area. Many members here in t...
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I begin as other members have by congratulating Gillian Mackay on securing this members’ business debate on the environmental impacts of single-use vapes and...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude, Ms Villalba.
Mercedes Villalba
Lab
Okay. Twenty-six councils now support a ban, along with a range of organisations, so—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I must ask you to stop, Ms Villalba. I indicated at the beginning of the debate that I would rigorously enforce the time limits to give everyone a chance to ...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate Gillian Mackay on securing debating time on this vital matter. Just after the debate began, I received an answer to a written question ...
Gillian Mackay
Green
Will the member take an intervention?
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
Sadly, I will not. I would love to but, unfortunately, I have only four minutes. Given that it is estimated that 76,000 under-18s in Scotland vape and that ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude, Mr Gibson.
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
—to re-establish ourselves as a leading public health nation. I support the motion. 13:10
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I join members in thanking Gillian Mackay for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is an issue that I have spoken about before, and it is one of real conce...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, thank Gillian Mackay for securing the debate, and I thank members from across the chamber for their contributions, which have covered many aspects of...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I am conscious that a large number of members still wish to participate in the debate. I am minded to accept a motion without notice under rule 8.14.3 to ext...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
With the discipline that members have shown in speaking, I should be able to protect the four minutes of the remaining members. I call Colin Smyth for up to ...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Gillian Mackay for introducing her motion. The great vape debate is often, “Are e-cigarettes saving smokers or creating new addicts?” The reality i...
Gillian Mackay
Green
The paediatrician who we heard from at the round table on Monday raised the concern that we are trading two health-harming products off against each other, r...
Colin Smyth
Lab
I absolutely accept that and, as we have heard from a number of members, it is also important to note that we face a growing avalanche of children and young ...
Stephanie Callaghan (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
Presiding Officer, thank you for doing your absolute best to make sure that we all get to make a contribution today. I also thank Gillian Mackay for bringing...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I join others in thanking Gillian Mackay for her leadership on the issue inside and outside of Parliament. She has worked with tireless campaigners such as L...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate my colleague Gillian Mackay on securing what is obviously a hugely important debate, given the number of MSPs who are speaking in it. I...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude, Ms Harper.
Emma Harper
SNP
I am on my last sentence, Presiding Officer. I was just going to thank Gillian Mackay again.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Carol Mochan is the last speaker in the open debate. You have up to four minutes, Ms Mochan. 13:34
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
As others have done, I take the opportunity to thank Gillian Mackay for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is a really important issue, as members have m...
The Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (Lorna Slater)
Green
I join my fellow members in congratulating Gillian Mackay on securing the debate and in thanking her for her on-going campaigning on the issue. In the contr...
Brian Whittle
Con
It occurs to me that, if we get to where we want to be with a ban, we will have a problem with children who are already addicted to nicotine. What can we do,...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Minister, I can give you the time back.