The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-17073, in the name of Emma Harper, on world asthma day 2025. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. Members who wish to participate should press their request-to-speak buttons now.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament welcomes World Asthma Day 2025, which takes place on 6 May; recognises that the theme for World Asthma Day 2025 is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”, which is set by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA); understands that around 360,000 people are living with asthma in Scotland, including 72,000 children, and that it is the most common respiratory condition impacting people of all ages; notes the support for efforts to improve asthma diagnosis and treatment, including receiving the basic elements of asthma care, which are an annual review, inhaler technique check and written action plan; regrets, however, that only 24% of people with asthma reported receiving all three basic elements, according to Asthma + Lung UK’s Life with a Lung Condition survey; notes that new asthma guidelines were launched in 2024 by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and British Thoracic Society (BTS); understands that 2023 saw the highest number of asthma deaths recorded in Scotland in over 30 years, and notes the support for the campaigns and advocacy from charities such as Asthma + Lung UK Scotland to improve asthma prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care across the country, including in the South Scotland region.
12:49
I thank colleagues for signing my motion, which has allowed us to bring the subject of world asthma day to the chamber. I thank Asthma and Lung UK Scotland for all its work as secretariat to the cross-party group on lung health, which I co-convene with my colleague Alexander Stewart, and for the briefing that it provided ahead of today’s debate. I also thank Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland for its briefing.
Asthma and Lung UK Scotland has campaigned, advocated and made great efforts that have been crucial in driving improvements in asthma care. As we approach world asthma day, which falls on 6 May this year, it is important to reflect on the progress that has been made in asthma care and on the challenges that remain.
This year’s theme from the Global Initiative for Asthma—GINA—is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL” and emphasises the need to ensure that everyone, regardless of their global location or socioeconomic status, has access to inhaled medications that they need both to control the underlying disease and to treat asthma attacks. That is one reason why having the right inhaler and the right inhaler technique feature in the advice for treatment, which I will come to.
Asthma is a pervasive condition that affects approximately 360,000 people in Scotland, including 72,000 children, although it was interesting to read a recent study in The BMJ that estimated that the prevalence in Scotland could be as much as 720,000. Asthma is the most common respiratory condition impacting individuals of all ages and its management requires a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach.
As someone who is still a nurse and has a sister who was a respiratory nurse consultant during her time in the national health service, I recognise the critical importance of providing the basic elements of asthma care, which are an annual asthma review, inhaler technique check and written asthma action plan. Those elements empower individuals to manage their condition effectively. Asthma and Lung UK reported that 30 per cent of asthma patients received all three of those essential components in 2025, which is an increase from the 24 per cent figure that was stated in my motion and came from 2024. It is good to see that that number is increasing.
The 30 per cent figure highlights the need for concerted efforts to improve the delivery and accessibility of basic asthma care. I know a number of the clinicians who are involved in taking forward work on lung health improvement. Dundee’s Dr Tom Fardon led the creation of the respiratory care action plan and that work is now being delivered by the centre for sustainable delivery. In November 2024, significant strides were made with the launch of new asthma guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence along with the British Thoracic Society and the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network, which is known as SIGN. Those guidelines are a collaborative effort to update practice in asthma management.
One key aspect of the asthma pathway is diagnosis, and the pathway includes recommendations for initial clinical assessments and objective tests to diagnose asthma in adults, young people and children. Testing recommendations include the use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide, which supports the diagnosis and management of asthma by measuring nitric oxide levels in exhaled breath. Elevated FeNO levels can indicate airway inflammation, which is a hallmark of asthma, and can help to guide treatment decisions. The pathway also includes monitoring, which is important in adjusting treatment plans and making interventions.
The new guidelines from SIGN and the BTS cover managing chronic asthma by using pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, with inhaler device selection and strategies for improving adherence to prescribed inhalational medication, and the management of acute asthma, with recommendations for those managing exacerbations.
The pathway includes the management of difficult and severe asthma with specialist therapies and has specific management guidelines covering issues during pregnancy and labour or while breastfeeding, as well as asthma in adolescence.
I hope that I have covered enough of those guidelines, which I know are detailed and complex.
I will now touch on the environmental impact of inhaler devices and the reduction of environmental harm. One inhaler manufacturer is transitioning its pressurised metered-dose inhalers—PMDIs—to a new propellant called HFO-1234z, whose global warming potential is 99.9 per cent lower than those of the propellants that are used in conventional inhalers. That change of propellant for multidose inhalers aims to reduce the environmental impact of respiratory medicines.
We must also consider the recycling potential of inhalers. Some do not have a lot of components and are relatively easy to recycle, but some have multiple plastic components that are glued or fixed and some are manufactured thousands of miles away from the end user.
Although the new guidelines offer a road map for improved asthma care, challenges persist.
I turn to deaths from asthma. In 2023, Scotland recorded the highest number of asthma deaths in over 30 years, which is a sobering reminder of asthma’s potential severity. That situation underscores the need for continued vigilance and dedication to improving asthma prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care across the country, including in NHS Dumfries and Galloway and NHS Borders.
There is a lot to cover, and in the few minutes that I have in this debate I cannot do justice to all the work that expert national health service clinicians do every day to support their patients. However, I thank them for that.
I look forward to hearing an update from the minister. She has been excellent in engaging with the cross-party group on lung health and she has kindly provided us with much of her time at the health events that I have hosted in Parliament, including those on asthma.
This year’s world asthma day is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to ensuring that everyone with asthma has access to the care, treatment and support that they need to live life as fully and healthily as possible.
12:56
I thank Emma Harper for securing this debate on world asthma day 2025. I, too, thank Asthma and Lung UK for the incredible work that it does on asthma and respiratory conditions in general. It quite rightly campaigns for lung health to be treated as a national priority, and it is not hard to understand why when we look at the numbers. The motion refers to figures from Asthma and Lung UK that show that around 360,000 Scots are afflicted with asthma, although a recent study that was published in the British Medical Journal estimates that the actual number could be up to double that.
Although asthma is manageable for many, we should not underestimate the seriousness of the condition. Since 2014, more than 1,000 Scots have died from asthma attacks, with the figure for 2023 being the highest in more than 30 years. Many such deaths are preventable, but only if we take the right action, such as providing the basic treatment steps that are outlined in the motion. They consist of a patient action plan, education on proper inhaler technique and an annual review. That is a vital combination, because asthma requires daily attention, even if someone otherwise feels well, in order to mitigate the risk of asthma attacks.
It is therefore deeply concerning to see what the research from Asthma and Lung UK says about that. Last year, just 30 per cent of Scots received all three of the basic elements of treatment, which was slightly behind the rest of the UK, for which the figure was 32 per cent. We need more progress to be made, so it is obviously a concern that the respiratory care action plan appears to have been shelved. Perhaps we will hear from the Scottish Government today on the possibility of a new lung health strategy to allay those concerns.
I also hope that we will hear more about the action to tackle air pollution, because many people with asthma readily say that it makes their condition worse. Common complaints include feeling breathless or wheezy and having symptoms triggered. In that regard, I note the case of one of my constituents, which has been reported in the press. Audrey Glenn from Dundee has raised the impact that localised air pollution from coal fires is having on her. She sees her garden fill up with smoke, which triggers coughing and forces her to reach for her inhaler. She makes the perfectly reasonable point that house coal fires are not suitable for built-up residential areas in this day and age.
Does the member agree that low-emission zones will help to contribute to cleaner air in our cities, which might benefit people who have asthma—especially those who might be triggered by poor air quality?
It was clear from yesterday’s debate that we need the data to confirm that, and the effectiveness of low-emission zones as a mechanism for improving air quality needs to be verified. We need to see the data, and there has to be an evidence-led approach. We could have air pollution monitors to ensure that the data is correct, particularly in areas such as schools, and not just focus on specific areas in city centres. A lot of work can be done in that area, but I was speaking about domestic coal heating.
Domestic coal heating is a major problem for air quality. However, in England, the sale of house coal was banned two years ago. To be fair, in Scotland, the cleaner air for Scotland 2 strategy proposed such a ban, but there has been little or no action from the Scottish Government to implement it. That seems like an obvious move to make. Consumers and householders would not be disadvantaged, but air quality would certainly benefit.
Scotland has some catching up to do, both on the treatment and prevention fronts. I urge ministers to take the advice of Asthma and Lung UK to treat asthma and respiratory conditions as the national priority that they are.
13:01
I, too, thank Emma Harper for bringing the debate to the chamber, and for her continued dedication to everything about lung health.
The subject is timely. Spring brings welcome warmer weather, but increased pollen levels can lead to flare-ups of respiratory issues, including asthma. With asthma being the most common respiratory condition, and given that it affects people of all ages, it is disappointing to hear that only 24 per cent of people who live with asthma report receiving the three basic checks for asthma care. The three checks are an annual review, inhaler technique check and written action plan. If people take one thing away from the debate, I want everyone to know that, if they are living with asthma, they can speak to clinicians, their general practitioner or those in front-line services about the basic checks.
Asthma is a relatively well-understood condition and it is common, but—as Maurice Golden said—that does not mean that it should be treated lightly. As the motion notes,
“2023 saw the highest number of asthma deaths recorded in Scotland in over 30 years”.
That speaks to the seriousness with which we should all treat the basic checks and the importance of advocacy of the global initiative for asthma and charities such as Asthma and Lung UK.
We are taking respiratory health more seriously. Air pollution is now getting much-needed prominence in public policy, and it has been a recurring subject of the cross-party group on accident prevention and safety awareness, which I have the privilege to convene. The group tends to raise it in the context of child safety. Planning proposals around schools and nurseries need to be cognisant of the danger that air pollution presents for children, in particular.
Members may remember the awful case of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah. Ella died following an asthma attack in 2013, with an inquest later finding air pollution as a material contribution to her death in London. That was the first time in the UK that air pollution was recognised as a factor in such deaths. The levels of nitrogen dioxide—which Emma Harper talked about—near Ella’s home had exceeded World Health Organization and European Union guidelines.
Her mother, Rosamund, understandably could not describe her settlement as a win in that situation, given the unimaginable tragedy that was inflicted on her family, but it puts a stark emphasis on the importance with which policy makers and legislators should treat clean air strategies. Rosamund’s sobering words, after a mammoth legal saga, were that
“The fact that in 2024 children continue to die from asthma is not acceptable.”
Ella’s death was preventable. Indeed, according to the Global Initiative for Asthma, most of these deaths are preventable. Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases. It affects more than 260 million people and is responsible for more than 450,000 deaths each year worldwide.
Managing the condition and managing attacks is often a matter of basic accessibility to inhaled treatments. That brings the focus of this year’s world asthma day theme into sharp relief: “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”.
I thank Emma Harper and other members who have contributed to the debate. I hope that it will go some way to raise the importance of the management of asthma among those who watch the debate.
13:05
I, too, thank Emma Harper for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I know that she has great knowledge and skills in this area, and I praise the on-going work that she is committed to carrying out in the Parliament and beyond.
Scottish Labour welcomes world asthma day 2025 and recognises this year’s theme, which, as members have said, is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”. As we have heard, that is important, because two out of three asthma-related deaths are preventable.
Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases and, today, we are reminded of its prevalence in Scotland. Although there is no cure, most people can control their symptoms well with asthma inhalers and other medicines, which improve their overall quality of life and outcomes. That is why this year’s theme is so important. It emphasises the need to ensure that all sufferers can access inhaled medication and appropriately manage the disease, which is crucial in reducing the frequency and severity of attacks.
However, the 2025 Asthma and Lung UK survey found that only 30 per cent of sufferers reported receiving all three basic provisions of asthma care. That is deeply worrying, and I know that everyone in the chamber will be concerned about it, because the three basic elements of care ensure that the disease is effectively managed and controlled and, importantly, that deaths are prevented.
I turn to inequalities. We know that, in many cases, women have far worse health outcomes than men, and that is no different in respiratory health. Women are more likely to have asthma, to have more severe symptoms and to die from their asthma. Many women experience a worsening of symptoms during menstruation and are at risk of potentially fatal asthma attacks every month, yet there is very little research on or understanding about that.
During last year’s world asthma day debate, I raised a point about data and the lack of
“an accurate collection method or an agreed reporting system across health boards”
in Scotland. Following that, I asked whether the Government would consider gathering greater data on the impact of gender on asthma outcomes to help us to better understand that inequality. Perhaps the minister might have some words on that that she could feed back to us in her closing remarks.
On the data point, in last year’s debate, I noted that the Government pointed to on-going work
“with Asthma and Lung UK and other key partners on commissioning a full national audit programme for respiratory conditions.”—[Official Report, 8 May 2024; c 119, 121.]
I know that the minister recognises the importance of that and, as Emma Harper said, attends many of the related events. The minister knows that improving patient treatment outcomes is important, so any information that she has on that would be gratefully received.
I would like to raise concerns about the Government’s progress on the respiratory health policy. At First Minister’s question time last week, I highlighted Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s concerns that the Government is “stagnating” in its delivery of the respiratory care action plan. I take the opportunity to re-emphasise those points and urge the Government to make progress on respiratory health, which often receives less attention than other conditions.
There is much that we can do, and I know that the minister will be keen to move the situation forward. Respiratory outcomes in Scotland remain comparatively worse than those in other European countries. Without action on the issue and raising awareness in the chamber, asthma and respiratory health will continue to remain a persistent public health problem. I know that nobody in the chamber wants that, so working together is really important. Again, I thank Emma Harper for bringing the debate to the chamber.
13:09
I, too, thank Emma Harper for securing this important debate to recognise world asthma day, which this year takes place on 6 May. I echo the contents of her speech and recognise the importance of the points that she and other members have made.
Despite its being considered a relatively common condition, asthma can be hugely debilitating and, for some people, life limiting. Its impact on sufferers’ ability to exercise, and the mental load of their having to be on constant watch for triggers and to avoid areas that are particularly polluted or have strong smells, illustrate the huge importance of highlighting the challenges of everyday life for people with the condition.
As Emma Harper and Maurice Golden have highlighted, the number of deaths from asthma recorded in Scotland in the past few years shows how serious the condition can be. If it might help to break their deadlock over the impact of LEZs on health issues, I highlight a study that the University of York conducted in 2022, which said:
“LEZ decreased the probability of having health problem that limits activity by 1.2 percentage points. Compared to the baseline mean, this corresponds to a 7% reduction in the health problems.”
Although that study related to LEZs in England, I thought it worth noting from my very quick search.
As we have heard, the theme for world asthma day 2025 is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”. That should serve as a strong reminder that getting the right medications should never be a luxury. Inhaled treatments are vital for managing asthma every day and for reacting quickly to dangerous attacks. Too many people still face obstacles, ranging from limited availability of treatment to prescribing issues, misdiagnosis and lack of follow-up care.
That is especially the case in the UK, where lung conditions kill more people than they do anywhere else in western Europe. In Scotland, that trend tends to affect the most deprived households disproportionately. An estimated 2.3 per cent of the population who are registered with a GP—roughly 360,000 people—have a diagnosis of asthma. That serves as a further reminder of the importance of doubling down on our efforts to raise awareness.
Several organisations, such as Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, and Asthma and Lung UK, have been in touch with me to pass on valuable data and pressing concerns. I will briefly highlight some of the urgent actions that they wish to see.
In 2021, the Scottish Government published its respiratory care action plan, with a vision to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions. As we have heard, the plan included 12 commitments, with a particular focus on the transition from child to adult services, providing better access to pulmonary rehabilitation, and making improvements to the gathering of data on respiratory conditions.
Four years on, progress on much of that has been slow. That is not to say that there have not been some positive developments, such as the introduction of restrictions on selling tobacco and vapes, and steps towards improving care for young people who are moving into adult services. However, it is undeniable that the plan’s implementation has stalled.
A crucial factor is that we now face the loss of clinical leadership in the area. Without such specialist leadership, it will be much harder to make progress on vital aspects such as data collection and pulmonary rehab. Moreover, the national centre for sustainable delivery has developed its own plan, but its implementation is on hold because of unresolved funding issues. We must not lose sight of the importance of properly funded research and services that lead to better treatments and wider access for everyone.
In previous debates on world asthma day, I have raised the issue of the environmental impact of inhalers. Many of them, in particular the older types, use propellants that contribute to increased emissions. Like Emma Harper, I was encouraged to see the innovations that are coming in that space. The new medicines that we are seeing are likely to launch soon. Some of them are treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that can be transferred to asthma care. They mark a major step towards reducing the environmental impact of inhaled medicines while ensuring that patients, especially the most vulnerable, still get the treatments that they need.
Allowing patient choice is hugely important. Not everyone wants to, or is able to, use a powder inhaler, for example. Some will have used a conventional inhaler for a long time. Encouraging companies to consider the environmental impact of their medicines is in everyone’s interests.
It is essential to recognise the on-going challenges that people who live with asthma face. More investment in research and better support for innovative treatments are crucial to improving lives. It is time to commit to stronger action to protect the health of those who are affected and for us to invest in a healthier future.
13:14
I thank Emma Harper, my fellow co-convener of the cross-party group on lung health, for bringing her members’ business debate to the chamber. As the motion states, the theme of this year’s world asthma day, which takes place on Tuesday 6 May, is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL.” Asthma charities have long called for that. They encourage the use of preventer inhalers for everyone with asthma, emphasising their importance in preventing airway inflammation and reducing the risk of asthma attacks. They also promote alternative reliever inhalers, which appear to be safer and more effective options than the traditional blue ones.
If we take a look at the detail of the recommendations, it becomes apparent why they make such good sense. Asthma and Lung UK highlights the evidence that shows why prevention is important: it manages inflammation and reduces the risk of asthma attacks.
We have heard about the difficulties that individuals have to manage because of air quality. Asthma and Lung UK advocates for moving away from the common blue reliever inhalers in favour of anti-inflammatory reliever inhalers or maintenance and reliever therapy inhalers, which offer real benefits to individuals.
The importance of correct inhaler technique cannot be stressed enough; it is vital to ensure that the medication reaches the user’s airways correctly and provides the most benefit. We have heard from patients, consultants and healthcare professionals about the techniques that require to be supported.
There are support groups in my region of Mid-Scotland and Fife, such as Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire Community Group and the breathe easy groups in Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Leven and Kirkcaldy. All those groups support people who have asthma or COPD, and offer support, encouragement and coaching for people in using their inhalers, to make sure that they are effective, which is important.
It is also essential that access to treatments is discussed. The subject has been brought up time and again at our cross-party group meetings by patients and health professionals, and the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health has been present to discuss that. However, some individuals still struggle to obtain access to even the most basic of treatments in some parts of the region. We have heard about the FeNO test, which needs to be looked at and progressed. I look forward to hearing what is being consulted on.
I strongly agree with many of the recommendations. The Scottish Government must, as a basic duty of care, ensure that the pathways are available for everyone. We have touched on pathways, but not all areas of Scotland have the same pathways, as has been reported. It is vital that we deal with that.
In 2023, we saw the highest number of asthma deaths recorded in Scotland in more than 30 years. That is a major issue. We have talked about air quality, people’s living conditions and people’s attitudes, but there needs to be clarity on how we manage the issue across our regions. It is clear that the matter should be urgently tackled. I look forward to hearing from the minister about positive work that the Scottish Government has attempted to do when she sums up, but many areas require progress.
The cross-party group has been doing exceptional work, and I again pay tribute to my co-convener Emma Harper and Asthma and Lung UK, because we are challenging this on a regular basis. We continue to move things forward. It has been inspirational to meet and discuss the issue with clinicians, professionals and the individuals who suffer from these conditions, because they tell us about the real world that they live in day to day. It is vital that we take on board all their concerns.
13:18
I, too, thank Emma Harper for lodging this important motion, and I welcome the opportunity to respond to the debate on behalf of the Scottish Government.
I put on record my thanks to those who support people living with asthma in Scotland, including NHS staff and third sector organisations such as Asthma and Lung UK. I also recognise, as a polite agitator of the group, the important work of the cross-party group on lung health, which is chaired by co-conveners Emma Harper and Alexander Stewart. I am always pleased to attend those meetings.
The debate has been valuable, and I thank everyone who has contributed for recognising that, across all parties, we share the desire to raise awareness of asthma and ensure that the people who live with it receive the best possible care.
Last night, I was pleased to join a round-table event on interstitial lung disease, which was hosted by Colin Smyth. One of the attendees at that session reminded me, and everyone in the room, of the importance of listening to those who are living with respiratory conditions when we are shaping policy; members have commented on that in the debate.
Although asthma is not directly a cardiovascular disease, it can increase the risk of developing such diseases. Yesterday, I had a conversation with the chief medical officer, who had hosted a webinar for about 1,000 GPs on respiratory disease. A lot of work is constantly going on in the background.
I will touch on a couple of points that have been raised by Emma Harper, Maurice Golden and others. They are right—the statistics on asthma deaths are alarming; that was the preamble to my conversation with the chief medical officer yesterday. The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to preventing avoidable harm, and I thank members for continuing to highlight the risks.
We know that most people with asthma are treated by their GP or practice nurse, and we have committed a greater proportion of new NHS funding to primary and community care so that GPs and services in the community will have the resources that they need for their essential role in managing conditions such as asthma.
Maurice Golden and Carol Mochan both highlighted the Government’s respiratory care action plan. We continue to support a number of projects via NHS partners, and the action plan is still being supported. However, as I am sure that members from all parties are aware, we are consulting on a long-term conditions framework. The consultation runs until 20 July. As I said at the event last night, I see that framework as being very similar to our cancer framework, in which there are common areas across different cancers that are joined up and specific strands of work for outcomes on specific cancers. I encourage everybody who is living with asthma to respond to the consultation so that the perspectives of people with respiratory conditions are properly reflected in the consultation.
Carol Mochan correctly raised a point about the importance of data. In 2023, as she will know, the Scottish Government provided Public Health Scotland with funding to undertake a scoping exercise to develop a respiratory audit programme. I absolutely recognise the importance of having that meaningful data, and we are considering what the best way forward is with that work.
World asthma day allows us time to reflect on the progress that has been made in respiratory care, and on the challenges that we face. We know that care and treatment for asthma are not always where they need to be; that is reflected in the concerning statistics on asthma deaths last year, as many members have mentioned. The Scottish Government is committed to improving services across the country in order to meet people’s needs through the implementation of the respiratory care action plan.
The theme of this year’s world asthma day, as many members have said, is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”. We know that around 360,000 people in Scotland have a diagnosis of asthma and that it is the most common respiratory condition impacting people of all ages. Most people living with asthma are supported well by their GP and practice nurse. However, we recognise that there is a way to go to ensure that everyone gets the care that they need at all stages of their life. That, too, was highlighted in the discussion at the round-table event last night. We were also reminded by Emily Kennedy, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, of the support that community pharmacies can also provide.
Over the past year, a major milestone in asthma care has been the publication of a new guideline on asthma diagnosis, monitoring and management, as Emma Harper laid out. That guidance was a collaboration between the British Thoracic Society, NICE and SIGN, and signals a shift in asthma care. It aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and to help people to control their asthma and reduce their risk of asthma attacks.
We know that diagnosis of asthma is a key area for improvement, and the guideline recommends a change in investigations to simplify the diagnostic pathway. As Alexander Stewart mentioned, changes include using FeNO breath tests and blood investigations alongside traditional tests, such as spirometry and peak-flow measurements. We hope that that directs us towards standardised, evidence-based care that will improve outcomes for everyone living with asthma. We will now work with key stakeholders across health and social care to ensure that those guidelines become a reality for clinical professions and those who live with asthma.
A key part of that will be continuing to promote the quality prescribing guide for improvement in respiratory conditions, which was published last year. The guide aims to keep people at the centre of their treatment and promotes safe and sustainable evidence-based prescribing. It highlights the importance of people with asthma having access to personalised asthma action plans. As Emma Harper mentioned, the guide also highlights that each person should receive training on how to use their inhalers properly.
We understand that, for those who are living with asthma and other conditions, environmental factors play a huge role in their daily lives, as Clare Adamson laid out so well when she referenced the sad death of Ella in London. Our vision is for Scotland to have the cleanest air in Europe, and we are committed to protecting people from the effects and harms of poor air quality. For example, the introduction of low-emission zones in our four largest cities from 2022 was a key initiative to further improve urban air quality. I note a number of members’ points about air pollution monitors in other locations, and I will speak to Government colleagues with regard to that.
As Gillian Mackay noted, Scotland also has in place a range of world-leading tobacco control measures. We are committed to creating a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034, and we welcome the reintroduction of the UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will help us to achieve our ambitious target as smoking rates continue to decline. That suite of prevention measures will help people to better manage their condition and support us in our work to prevent respiratory disease in future generations.
I close by reiterating our commitment to ensuring that everyone who is living with asthma in Scotland receives the best possible treatment, care and support. We know that there is still more to do in respiratory care, and we can improve by better understanding the needs of people who are living with asthma, as I was so eloquently reminded at the round-table event last night.
That concludes the debate.
13:27 Meeting suspended.Previous
First Minister’s Question Time