No extra funding for councils to enforce vape laws
The Scottish Government will not provide additional funding to councils for enforcing vape laws, despite concerns over declining trading standards staff.Summary
The Scottish Government has stated that it will not provide extra funding to local councils to enforce regulations on vape shops, despite a significant decrease in the number of trading standards officers. This decision comes after a fire in Glasgow, where the vape shop involved was not registered with the government. Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the current registration system, with nearly 80% of registered vape shops in Glasgow failing to provide updated details. While the government emphasizes existing enforcement powers and potential penalties for non-compliance, MSPs argue that sufficient funding is needed to ensure effective enforcement and are questioning the need for a national licensing scheme. A recent survey indicates that the trading standards profession is facing a 'tipping point' due to an aging workforce and recruitment challenges.
(Source：The Herald)
