Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid): NPA

Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S2M-2667, in the name of Andy Kerr, that the general principles of the Smoking, Health and Soc...

The Minister for Health and Community Care (Mr Andy Kerr): Lab

Lives have been destroyed, families have been devastated and careers have been shattered—those are the tragic consequences of illness and disease caused by t...

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): Lab

As someone who has recently, finally, stopped smoking, I wish that I had never started.

Members:

Well done.

Elaine Smith: Lab

Thank you. Is there any evidence that a smoking ban will help to prevent young people from starting to smoke, which is crucial?

Mr Kerr: Lab

There is strong evidence of that worldwide and in the work that we are doing in the Executive. We seek through the bill to denormalise smoking—to make it abn...

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): Con

The minister talked about smokers. Does he differentiate between cigarette smokers and those who choose to smoke pipes or cigars, given that 90 per cent of t...

Mr Kerr: Lab

I do not make a distinction, because we are talking about the protection of public health—the health of everyone in Scotland, including the 70 per cent of pe...

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): SNP

Will the minister join me in welcoming the coverage of all tobacco that is smoked? Will he highlight the oral health problems, such as cancers, that are asso...

Mr Kerr: Lab

We are seeking to address those matters in the strategy that Rhona Brankin announced recently in relation to oral health checks, particularly for the over-60...

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): Con

Will the minister give way?

Mr Kerr: Lab

I will give way in a minute. I need to make progress.As Professor Sir Richard Doll has observed, an hour a day in a room with a smoker is nearly 100 times mo...

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

The minister is aware of my unswerving support for the banning of smoking in public places, but is he also aware of my concern about the definition of smokin...

Mr Kerr: Lab

First, I place on record again an acknowledgement of the work that Mr Maxwell has done in relation to the bill and our efforts to create a smoke-free Scotlan...

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): Con

As a non-smoker, I have sympathy with many of the aspirations behind the bill. Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is that smoking per se is not illegal. I ...

Mr Kerr: Lab

The bill rests on the Executive's aim of improving public health. The public health of those in a private club, a social club, a pub and a workplace is equal...

Mr Monteith: Con

The minister talks about the success of the ban in New York. Why, then, will he not consider some of the exemptions that are allowed in New York, such as cig...

Mr Kerr: Lab

I refer the member to my previous answer. I am pleased, however, that he has brought up the subject of the ban in New York. Back in 2002, few people were mor...

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): SNP

Will the minister give way?

The Presiding Officer: NPA

The minister is getting tight for time.

Mr Kerr: Lab

I am sorry. Perhaps Mr Swinney can address the matter later, in his speech.On the other aspects of the bill, I am sure that the Executive will reflect on the...

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): SSP

I congratulate the Health Committee, the clerks and everyone in the Parliament who has worked hard on this extensive bill and produced excellent reports. The...

Mr Kerr: Lab

Will the member accept on record the fact that 50 per cent of general practitioner premises are privately owned and that capital support in the public sector...

Carolyn Leckie: SSP

That case has indeed been made for PFI; however, it has been blown out of the water by Allyson Pollock and others. I do not need to repeat their points again...

Stewart Stevenson: SNP

Will the member give way?

Carolyn Leckie: SSP

I am sorry—I am in my last minute.As a result, it is not necessary to tie up this highly controversial measure in a generally positive piece of legislation. ...

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): SNP

I welcome this stage 1 debate. I thank all those who gave evidence to the committee; I also thank the clerks for all their hard work in helping us with what ...

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): Con

I am well aware that the Health Committee has recently expressed concerns about obesity. Has the member seen any research that links cessation of smoking wit...

Shona Robison: SNP

To be perfectly honest, that is a silly analogy. The member and his colleagues must assess whether, on the balance of probabilities, the measure will improve...

Mr Monteith: Con

Will the member give way?