Meeting of the Parliament 17 March 2026 [Draft]
I thank all of those who have participated in this debate for their cross-party working. I also thank the clerks and the bill teams for their work throughout.
As I mentioned in my opening speech, Scottish Labour’s approach to the bill has consistently prioritised patient safety. The growth in the non-surgical procedures industry has highlighted a worrying gap in essential regulation to protect people and providers who deliver professional and safe services. This is a growing industry and the public and professional bodies want that to be reflected. The bill offers a chance to introduce national standards and expectations and, in the long term, it will ensure that patient safety is prioritised.
We want all services to be as safe as possible. I take the opportunity to put on the record again that we in Scottish Labour recognise the good practice that currently exists in the sector. However, we currently have no way of identifying the good from the bad and there are clear cases of hygiene and safety standards not being met, which is why the bill is so important. The sector has grown rapidly and, given the fact that these services and procedures are so widely available and easily accessible, the legislation is welcome.
It is not for us to determine how a person chooses to present themselves, but the Parliament has a responsibility to ensure that public safety is protected and that necessary safeguards and regulation are in place. The bill will create an offence of providing procedures to people under the age of 18, which is welcome and long overdue. We know that such procedures are not suitable for young people and that they can have damaging and long-term consequences. The bill will improve accountability when things go wrong and give us an important opportunity to raise the public’s awareness of and educate people about the standards that they should be looking for before undergoing procedures with associated risks.
Although we support the bill, we also recognise the reservations and concerns that were expressed by those in the industry who support regulation but are seeking reassurance in support and guidance. Scottish Labour supported a number of amendments that sought phased implementation and review of the operation and enforcement of the act. We will continue to scrutinise the legislation in the sessions to come to ensure that its implementation and future regulations are balanced with support, training and guidance for the industry.