Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2026 [Draft]
I am pleased to confirm that Scottish Labour will support the bill at stage 1.
During the committee’s evidence gathering sessions, it was clear that the bill could have the potential not only to address gaps in a largely unregulated sector, but to greatly improve patient safety, as has been said. With the growth in the non-surgical cosmetic procedures industry, a worrying gap has been highlighted in essential regulation to protect people. For too long, the industry has operated without proper safety, accountability and professional standards in place, and that has allowed many to take advantage of some of our consumers.
Just to be clear, I know that many practitioners seek to keep the sector professional and practise at a high standard—this is about the need for proper accountability and regulation. The unaccountability and lack of regulation must come to an end and introducing further restrictions is a necessary step towards improving patient safety, which is the top priority.
As I have said, Scottish Labour recognises that the bill is not perfect and that there are a number of concerns about supporting the move to a new era of regulation, safety and standards that must be addressed at stage 2. I recognise that the minister has committed to doing that. We want fair and appropriate regulation that ensures the highest standards in patient safety, while supporting those providers who deliver a professional and safe service.
A key concern that was raised during the committee’s evidence gathering was about the inconsistencies in the training and qualifications of people who provide non-surgical procedures. There was consensus on the need for robust training and national standards to be put in place to ensure clarity and consistency. I hope that the minister will be able to give some feedback on that in her closing remarks, because the committee made it clear that the establishment of clear and appropriate standards will be critical to the bill’s implementation.
In addition, serious concerns were raised about whether the sanctions for committing offences under the bill went far enough and whether they would act as a strong enough deterrent for bad actors who are willing to commit repeat offences. I welcome the fact that the Government has recognised those concerns and is considering what more can be done to address them.
An equally important issue for compliance is whether providers are being given enough support to help them ensure that they follow the law. The Government has been unable to provide any detail on what such guidance would look like, and it has not been able to confirm whether businesses will receive financial support for some of the transitions that will be necessary. We hope that that will be covered at stage 2, and I would welcome any comments from the minister to indicate that we might be able to work together on that.
As well as providing guidance for providers, the bill presents a welcome opportunity—