Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03932 on 22 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

While there have been no specific discussions with NHS Health Scotland, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and the Cities Strategy has been fully included in all discussions about the proposed public health levy.

There is no inward investment scheme under which companies receive public money. Public money is paid to companies under schemes such as Regional Selective Assistance, Research and Development Grant and Training Plus.

Alcohol and tobacco are two of the greatest single preventable causes of ill-health and premature death in Scotland and their use places an enormous economic burden on Scotland of £4.7 billion a year, including some £539 million on health care costs. The Chief Medical Officer has made clear his support for the focus within the Scottish Government's Draft Budget on preventative spend, including preventative measures undertaken by local authorities which may be supported through the public health supplement.

The Scottish Government remains committed to implementing legislation to ban the display of tobacco products in places where they are offered for sale in Scotland. Earlier this year the former Minister for Public Health and Sport announced provisional dates for when the ban would come into force. These were April 2012 for large shops and April 2015 for small shops subject to the satisfactory conclusion of the ongoing legal challenge mounted by the Tobacco Industry against the ban. A judgement from the Court of Session in relation to that legal challenge is still awaited.

The Draft Budget is a consultation and there will be continual engagement with retailers and business organisations throughout that process. As such, it is appropriate to await consultation responses before finalising the detailed operation of the supplement.

COSLA supports the focus within the Scottish Government's Draft Budget on preventative spend, including measures undertaken by local authorities which may be supported through the public health supplement.

The revenue will increase in 2013-14 as a result of an increase in the amount of the supplement.

The total combined economic cost to Scotland of alcohol and tobacco misuse is estimated to be £4.66 billion a year.

For the companies estimated to be liable for the public health supplement business rates typically account for around 2% of turnover.

Future retail sales and profits of companies liable for the public health supplement are not held centrally, either on a Scotland wide or on an individual store basis.

However, the £30 million raised by the supplement currently represents around 0.1% of total retail sales.