Chamber and committees

Maree Todd: The Scottish Government published data on alcohol, tobacco and vape use among young people under the age of 18 in 2023 through the Health and Wellbeing Census 2021-22 and this can be found at:https://www.gov.scot/publications/health-and-wellbeing-census-scotland-2021-22/.

Since 2024, the Scottish Government has also funded an annual boost to the Scottish sample in the ASH Smokefree GB Youth Survey to support understanding of young people’s behaviours and attitudes towards smoking, vaping and other nicotine products. The latest report was published in August 2026 and can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/vaping-smoking-scottish-adolescents-results-ash-smokefree-gb-youth-survey-2026/pages/3/. The next wave of data collection is expected to take place in March 2027.

Separately Public Health Scotland commissions the 4-yearly Health Behaviours in School Age Children (HBSC) survey. The survey covers alcohol, tobacco and vape use among 11, 13 and 15-year-olds in Scotland. The latest published report, from 2022, can be found at:https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/healthwellbeing/research/mentalhealth/projects/healthbehaviourinschool-agedchildrenhbscscotlandstudy/. The next report, based on 2026 data, is expected to be published in 2027. The study has also produced a dedicated report on trends in young people’s substance use in Scotland, which can be found at:https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_1070957_smxx.pdf.

Every effort is made to ensure that young people and staff in schools are not over-burdened by research. This is achieved through a combination of national level surveys and locally driven data collection. There are no current plans to commission any additional data collection on these topics.

A range of voluntary processes are in place to assist prisoners to engage with appropriate support services following their release. These include the national third sector throughcare service Upside, who offer support to short sentence prisoners leaving custody, should they wish to receive it.

The SPS notifies each local authority of upcoming prisoner releases to their area twelve weeks in advance, to help inform the future operation of public housing and other local government services and social work activity, including local authority voluntary throughcare services (should the individual request that assistance).

Individuals who have no fixed abode upon release from custody are considered to be involuntarily homeless. It is the responsibility of each Local Authority to address the needs of potential homeless people in their area – balancing local need of all types, to local resources. The Scottish Government, Scottish Prison Service and housing partners developed the SHORE standards (“Sustainable Housing On Release for Everyone”) to highlight good practice in addressing the housing needs of individuals entering and leaving prison.

Prison based healthcare services will notify relevant community-based healthcare services in advance of a prisoner’s release. SPS officers and Prison Link Centre staff will assist individuals who are seeking to engage with public and third sector services prior to their release.

Department of Work and Pensions also deploy staff within prisons to help prisoners with benefit matters, including assistance to obtain their benefit entitlement after their release.

Where a prisoner’s sentence requires them to be subject to mandatory supervision following their release, the necessary preparations will be made by Justice Social Work services to align with the prisoner’s release date.

Prisoners who reach the automatic early release date for their custodial sentence cannot be detained further due to their status regarding accommodation or other forms of support.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a Scotland-wide assessment of this kind. However, as part of the Scottish Government’s consultation on Fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas, displacement has been assessed.

For the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA), a displacement test was undertaken for each MPA and regionally for the proposed PMF management areas. This considered the scale and value of fishing activity affected, the availability of alternative fishing grounds, vessel and gear characteristics, stakeholder evidence on the likely destination of displaced effort, and whether displaced activity could be accommodated elsewhere without significant environmental, economic or social impacts. The assessment considered a range of outcomes, including circumstances where displaced fishing effort could move to alternative fishing grounds and continue operating, and circumstances where it could not.

In parallel, the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) assessed the environmental implications of displacement through a dedicated impact pathway examining the potential adverse effects arising from the displacement of fishing activity and the consequent intensification of activity in locations where fishing already occurs. The SEA considered four pathways:

• potential benefits to habitats and species within protected sites;
• potential spill-over benefits beyond site boundaries;
• potential adverse effects resulting from the displacement of fishing activity and the likely intensification of activity elsewhere; and
• potential adverse effects from increased fishing effort by other gear types not restricted by the measures.

The SEA concluded that, for the majority of sites and areas assessed, adverse environmental effects from displacement were assessed as none or negligible and that, overall, the proposed measures were expected to result in a beneficial effect on the Scottish marine environment.

The SEIA and SEA will be published as part of the consultation documentation.

(a) The Scottish Government does not hold data regarding individuals subject to community based Compulsion Orders.

Data shows that there are currently 15 individuals subject to a Compulsion Order and Restriction Order and conditionally discharged to the community from medium secure care.

• 9 individuals under the responsibility of NHS Lothian
• 5 individuals under the responsibility of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
• 1 individual under the responsibility of NHS Fife

There are currently no individuals subject to a Compulsion Order and Restriction Order and conditionally discharged from high secure care.

Individuals subject to a Compulsion Order and Restriction Order can also be conditionally discharged from low secure care.

(b) It would be inappropriate to comment on the circumstances of individual cases. The Scottish Government receive regular reports regarding patients on conditional discharge from the Responsible Medical Officer, Mental Health Officer and Community Psychiatric Nurse. Together, these reports provide a multidisciplinary view of a patient’s mental health, care and treatment, progression in the community and management of identified risks.

Ministers also receive notification of any adverse event regarding patients subject to a Compulsion Order and Restriction Order who are conditionally discharged. This includes notification of any serious incidents, concerning behaviour or further offending. The multi-disciplinary community care team will report concerns regarding any aspect of management of the patient and provide sufficient information to enable Scottish Ministers to consider whether the patient may remain in the community, or whether for the protection of the public, steps should be taken to return the patient to hospital.

In the last five years one patient subject to a Compulsion Order and Restriction Order who was conditionally discharged from medium secure care was recalled to hospital. The circumstances did not involve any further offending.

The Scottish Government recognises that proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Priority Marine Features (PMFs) may have impacts on some fishers, businesses and coastal communities. As a result, the Marine Directorate is undertaking a mitigation programme to identify and consider appropriate support for those significantly affected.

No final decisions have yet been taken on the scope, funding or delivery of any mitigation package. However, the interim findings that the Scottish Government is exploring are a range of measures intended to support long-term adaptation, resilience and community sustainability, rather than relying primarily on short-term compensation payments.

In relation to:

(a) adaptation, the mitigation programme is considering targeted business resilience and advisory support, skills development, workforce initiatives, support for new entrants, diversification and innovation opportunities where appropriate, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and place-based support for communities experiencing the greatest impacts. The programme is also considering community-led initiatives and wider support to help fishers and communities adapt to changing circumstances.

(b) gear conversion and diversification, the Scottish Government is continuing to engage with industry representatives, fishers and coastal communities to understand what support may be most effective. Stakeholders have highlighted that diversification opportunities can be limited and location-specific, and the mitigation programme is seeking to identify barriers that may have reduced the effectiveness or uptake of previous diversification initiatives and explore how these might be addressed.

(c) exit from the fishing industry, stakeholders indicated a preference for measures that maintain viable fishing opportunities, strengthen business resilience and support long-term adaptation rather than compensation or measures focused on industry exit. The Scottish Government will continue discussions with affected stakeholders to understand whether there is support for measures such as vessel decommissioning or exit schemes, alongside wider measures focused on maintaining viable fisheries, supporting business resilience and helping communities adapt to change.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with stakeholders, assess evidence and consider consultation responses before making decisions on any future mitigation measures.

The decision to proceed with fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid is based on robust assessment of the available evidence. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which provides independent scientific advice to Ministers and risk assessments on nutrition and related health issues, recommended folic acid fortification following an extensive assessment of the evidence on folate and health. A wide range of impacts were considered, including in relation to cancer and cancer treatments. The reviews are available at:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/338892/SACN_Folate_and_Disease_Prevention_Report.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/637111/SACN_Update_on_folic_acid.pdf

The impact assessment for the policy is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d020f3640f0b609ad3158a3/folic-acid-impact-assessment.pdf

Non-wholemeal wheat flour is already the established vehicle for mandatory fortification, as it is currently fortified with calcium, iron, niacin, and thiamine. It was agreed UK-wide to limit folic acid fortification to flour that is already fortified, so that individuals are able to avoid fortified flour if they choose to or need to. These individuals will continue to be able to consume wholemeal flour and other non-wheat products, including gluten-free products and soy and spelt flours.

The mandated level of folic acid fortification for non-wholemeal wheat flour minimises the risk of people exceeding the recommended upper level of folic acid intake whilst helping to ensure that there is around a 20% decrease in the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects in the UK each year. The level of fortification is based on scientific modelling by Food Standards Scotland: https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/sites/default/files/migration/downloads/STOCHASTIC_MODELLING_TO_ESTIMATE_THE_POTENTIAL_IMPACT_OF_FORTIFICATION_OF_FLOUR_WITH_FOLIC_ACID_IN_THE_UK_-_FINAL_REPORT_-_July_31_2017.pdf

The NHS provides guidance for individuals who may need to avoid folic acid, for example, due to specific medical conditions or interactions with medication. People in this situation are advised to seek advice from a healthcare professional.

The Scottish Government, together with the other UK nations, will monitor closely the impacts of fortification on health, including on the incidence of neural tube defects and on population health more widely.

To mitigate risks in areas where static fishing gear is permitted, the Scottish Government considers the following controls necessary?