Question reference: S6W-10103
- Asked by: Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 29 July 2022
-
Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 August 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what budget it has allocated for smoking cessation services in (a) each of the last five financial years, including 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23, and what budget it has provisionally allocated for smoking cessation services over the remainder of the current parliamentary session.
Answer
The Scottish Government has provided £9,144,964 to Health Boards for the provision of smoking cessation services.
This funding is calculated on the basis of smoking rates and deprivation and is used to provide the free Quit Your Way service. This service includes an interactive website, offering expert advice and support to those seeking to quit tobacco products. Local support services and access to a range of free medications and products are provided to help people stop smoking.
Smoking Cessation | Smoking Prevention | Total Funded | |
2016 - 2017 | 9110000 | 1500000 | * £10,610,000 |
2017 – 2018 | £8,426,750 | £1,387,500 | £9,814,250 |
2018 – 2019 | £8,426,750 | £1,387,500 | £9,814,250 |
2019 – 2020 | £8,005,413 | £1,318,125 | £9,323,538 |
2020 – 2021 | £7,623,384 | £1,255,222 | £8,878,606 |
2021 – 2022 | £7,852,085 | £1,292,879 | £9,144,964 |
Local Authorities receive annual funding of £1.5 million, which has been maintained since its introduction in 2010/2011 and was added to in 2017-18 when £1.340 million was added for Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Control. This total funding of £2.840 million has continued into 2022-23. The funding Scottish councils receive is to more rigorously enforce tobacco sales law, including test purchasing and joint working.
In addition we fund the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS), co-ordinator function - Tobacco and NVP control - national coordination of enforcement activities of Scottish councils, and support for action against illicit tobacco in the financial year 2022-2023.