Last week, we published our 2023-24 Programme for Government, which outlined our commitment to take action on the impacts of single use vapes.

We will be consulting on measures to tackle the environmental impacts of single use vapes, including a proposal to ban their sale. Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation and developed in the spirit of the new deals recently agreed with local government and with business.

In addition, our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, whilst providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation.

We published our consultation analysis in September 2022 and are considering next steps as a priority, which will form part of our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan when it is published in autumn 2023.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-20714 on 19 September 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Scottish Government officials engage individually with local authorities and health and social care partnerships alongside accessing feedback on autism strategies via the Social Work Scotland Learning Disability and Autism Subgroup meetings and the National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) programme of work.

Local strategies are based on The Scottish Government Learning/Intellectual Disabilities and Autism: Towards Transformation Plan.

The latest statistical release for Free Personal and Nursing Care is for the period 2022-23 and was published on 05 September 2023. Two published excel files accompany the publication, for people aged between 18 – 64 and for people aged over 65. These can be found at: Supporting documents - Free Personal and Nursing Care, Scotland, 2022-23 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The relevant data can be found in table 2 within both excel files.

Children and young people learn about the negative impact of tobacco and vaping products on their health through the Health and Wellbeing curriculum. This includes understanding the laws around sales of tobacco products, and how to make positive choices in sometimes challenging situations. It is up to individual schools to decide what to study against the experiences and outcomes within the Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Government wants to build on the success of no smoking education, and are reviewing vaping education for young people in schools with the Children and Young People Health and Wellbeing team to ensure that it provides the best impact.

We also recently distributed a survey via the National Parents Forum for Scotland to inform future education and marketing campaigns on youth vaping.

In addition, ASH Scotland have undertaken work with young people to help them understand the risks associated with using nicotine vaping products –resources can be found on the Young Scot website and social media channels.

Decisions on applications for section 36 consent are made on a case-by-case basis, weighing consideration of the benefits and impacts of the proposal, relevant policy, and all other material considerations.

The Scottish Government’s 2023-24 Programme for Government, published on 5 September 2023, outlined our commitment to take action to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and to tackle the environmental impact of single use vapes, including consulting on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures.

On 13 September, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, a meeting was held between ministers and senior officials from across the UK to discuss the available evidence and shared challenges, and agreement was reached to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation and developed in the spirit of the new deals recently agreed with local government and with business. Development of the consultation will also take place alongside careful consideration of the public health impacts and impacts on young people.

On 6 September, Scottish Government hosted a roundtable with a range of stakeholders to explore the findings of the Zero Waste Scotland report and discuss policy options to tackle the environmental impacts of single use vapes. The detailed findings of this engagement will inform our approach and further engagement and we will be working constructively with retailers, local government, young people and other stakeholders to develop and deliver solutions.

We have a clear message on vaping – that it is one possible smoking cessation method and not a lifestyle accessory. Vapes should not be used by children and young people or adult non-smokers.

Our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, whilst providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation.

Officials are working to develop further action in this area, which will form part of our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan when it is published in autumn 2023.

Any action that we seek to take will build on the regulations that are already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under-18s.

We are also supporting work with young people to help them understand the risks related to vaping.

We continue to work with the UK Government, alongside Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly, over joint approaches where appropriate and welcome their commitment to help address underage vaping.

The purchase of tobacco and vaping products is age restricted and they should not be sold to, or purchased for, anyone under the age of 18.

The Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced new laws on the sale of tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs) which made it an offence to:

1. sell NVPs to people aged under 18

2. buy NVPs on behalf of people aged under 18 (proxy purchase)

3. allow a person under 18 to sell tobacco, cigarette papers or NVPs without authorisation

4. fail to operate an age verification policy at premises selling these products

5. carry on an NVP business without registration

Enforcement of legislation around the sale and purchase of nicotine vapour products (NVPs) is carried out by Local Authorities as part of the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP).

This is overseen by the Society for Trading Standards Officers in Scotland (SCOTSS) and funded by the Scottish Government. Officers are using every tool at their disposal - including test purchasing - to ensure retailers are not selling tobacco or vaping products to under 18s.

An applicant is expected to undertake pre application consultation prior to submission of an Electricity Act application for construction of a battery storage development. Such pre application allows local communities to have their say at an early stage, and the Scottish Ministers expect that a submitted application includes a report on how communities’ views have been taken into account through this process.

An application submitted for consideration by the Scottish Ministers must provide assessment of the potential impacts on the receiving environment and on local amenity and infrastructure. A public consultation is held, and members of the public are invited to make representations on the submitted application. Community councils in the vicinity of the proposal are consulted for their views on the potential impacts.

The application information, consultation responses and representations from members of the public are considered carefully before any decision is made on an application.