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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 4 May 2021
  6. Session 6: 13 May 2021 to 8 April 2026
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Displaying 995 contributions

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Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee [Draft]

Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 9 December 2025

Jenni Minto

On your first point, convener, it is fair to say that conversations about the bill that I have had with members from across the chamber show clear support for ensuring that we get this right from a public health perspective. I therefore appreciate the scrutiny that this committee and the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee have been giving to the bill.

As you correctly pointed out, part of the situation with UKIMA relates to the fact that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government are unable to set training and supervision standards for Scotland in this area. We consider that part 3 of UKIMA would be engaged by legislation that sets training standards for practitioners or prevents practitioners who do not hold certain qualifications or are not existing professionals from providing certain procedures. That was a clear concern for us when we were drafting the bill.

As soon as we recognised that, we engaged with the UK Government, and I am pleased that that engagement has been very positive. It is on-going, but we are engaging across the issue because there is a recognition that we need to get it right. As you know, the UK Government is also looking at bringing in legislation in this area of public health concern. We need to get it right for people in both Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee [Draft]

Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 9 December 2025

Jenni Minto

That is a good question that has come out in a lot of the conversations that I have had with stakeholders who have fed in their thoughts. Education is really important in some respects. While I was driving to my constituency yesterday, I listened to a Radio Scotland piece on cosmetic procedures and the evidence that the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is currently taking. Such pieces of work in the media are very helpful in ensuring that we get the right message across. I am content to take the issue away and consider what more we could do in that space.

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee [Draft]

Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 9 December 2025

Jenni Minto

Yes; it had to be so. As Owen Griffiths pointed out, engagement has happened not just from a health perspective, with the Department of Health and Social Care, but from a business perspective.

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee [Draft]

Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 9 December 2025

Jenni Minto

I recognise the work that the committee has done on framework legislation, but I underline that I do not believe that this is framework legislation. It has substantive powers that are focused on ensuring that we get the right public health outcomes when it comes to non-surgical procedures.

As I said in my response to Katy Clark, it is important that the legislation is able to respond to changes in the sector in order to remain relevant and to protect the public from potential harms. I understand your point about scrutiny, which is very important. We have worked very closely with cosmetic clinicians and I have met businesses. To ensure that we get the legislation right and in order to make changes that are currently not included in the bill, we need to continue that close engagement. The people with whom my team and I have worked closely want to ensure that this area of work is as safe as possible.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 9 December 2025

Jenni Minto

I am pleased to join the committee to consider the draft Food Safety Act 1990 Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2026. As the committee will be aware, I am advised on food safety standards and labelling by Food Standards Scotland. The proposed minor technical amendments arise as a consequence of the UK Government’s decision to leave the European Union and the need to ensure that the statute book in Scotland remains operable. Food Standards Scotland worked diligently with the Food Standards Agency and the Scottish Government to update “EU law” references to “retained EU law” references where they were found.

The instrument relates to a deficiency in the 1990 act, which provides the legal foundation for food safety standards in Great Britain. The amendments to the 1990 act were originally going to be made by a GB statutory instrument. However, once it became apparent that the Food Standards Agency and the UK Government were pausing the GB SI, Food Standards Scotland and the Scottish Government agreed that the responsible approach would be to introduce a Scottish statutory instrument instead. The approach serves to enhance the clarity and accessibility of the devolved statute book and give the Parliament reassurance that orderly preparations are being made in Scotland for an EU reset. I stress that the amendments are technical in nature and do not amount to any change in policy. They are necessary to ensure that the statute book is brought up to date. There will be no impact on businesses or any other stakeholder group. I ask the committee to agree to the proposed instrument, and I am happy to take any questions.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 9 December 2025

Jenni Minto

In what respect?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 9 December 2025

Jenni Minto

The reason for introducing the SSI is to return the statute book to how it should be. The statute book has not been updated, so it still refers to “EU law”, which is no longer factually correct, because we now have “assimilated law”. That is the change that will be made.

The UK Government is currently working to improve relationships with the EU. Of course, the Scottish Government believes that Scotland’s best interests would be served by rejoining the EU as an independent member state, but, until we get to that point, it is important that we rebuild a close relationship. When the work on an EU reset is done, we will have a statute book in which that work can be integrated quickly and efficiently.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 25 November 2025

Jenni Minto

We have put in place a healthier food initiative through the Scottish Grocers’ Federation, and we have invested just over £300,000 in that this year for the promotion of healthier foods. I have been to primary schools in areas of higher deprivation where I have heard it explained that healthier food is brought in at breakfast time and for breakfast clubs to support children in choosing healthier options. As I have said, this is a whole-system approach.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 25 November 2025

Jenni Minto

We have been very clear with Public Health Scotland that that is within its remit, and we are working with it to ensure that the evaluation is done.

You are quite right that there is no point in bringing in regulations if we do not do an evaluation to understand the differences that are made, which would then provide the evidence that would allow us to take additional steps as required.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 25 November 2025

Jenni Minto

Yes, they are, is the short answer. We did a lot of evaluation and consultation. It was felt that the appropriate way to follow what has been done in England, as the Welsh have done, was to introduce product placement regulations and regulations for the buy one, get one free price promotions at the same time. That is what we are introducing.