Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con

The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-4091, in the name of Stewart Maxwell, on reduced ignition potential cigarettes. The de...

Motion debated,

That the Parliament acknowledges that deaths resulting from fires, of which there were 99 in 2004, are a major concern in Scotland; recognises that they are ...

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

In 2004, some 7,420 fires occurred in homes in Scotland. Those fires resulted in 1,858 non-fatal casualties and 76 fatalities. Of the 76 deaths, 30 were caus...

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): Ind

I thank Stewart Maxwell for securing the debate tonight. I will speak from my experience as a general practitioner and as the daughter of parents who smoked....

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

Stewart Maxwell's motion is interesting and seems well intentioned. Although no one wishes to do anything that would increase the dangers of cigarette smokin...

Mr Maxwell: SNP

Will the member give way?

Mr Monteith: Ind

No—I must carry on.I am not convinced that such cigarettes will be acceptable to the public. As I said, I do not smoke cigarettes; however, I have spoken to ...

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

It gives me much pleasure to lock horns once again with Brian Monteith on the subject of smoking. I suspect that, as in the past, we will remain implacable o...

The Deputy Minister for Justice (Hugh Henry): Lab

Stewart Maxwell has secured a useful debate on an important and significant issue. It is right to draw attention to the fact that the number of fire-related ...

Mr Monteith: Ind

I am not sure whether I heard the minister correctly. He seemed to be ascribing all the deaths to passive smoking. I am sure that he meant that they were att...

Hugh Henry: Lab

I referred to 1,000 deaths a year arguably being associated with passive smoking.I acknowledge that there are huge cultural issues to be addressed. Jean Turn...

Mr Maxwell: SNP

I accept that all factors must be taken into account and that we must be careful to ensure that the laws that we introduce do not interfere, but from all the...

Hugh Henry: Lab

That would have to be factored into any debate. I raised the point and although I am not sure that the arguments are as conclusive as that, I am not saying t...

Mr Monteith: Ind

I welcome the minister's balanced approach to the subject, although I recognise that we come from entirely different points of view. His point is well made. ...

Hugh Henry: Lab

Any move in such a direction needs to be carefully considered. We must reflect on all the relevant factors and, where possible, avoid the unintended conseque...

Meeting closed at 17:34.