Written Question · S6W-15706 · Session 6
On what date the (a) conversion therapy ban, (b) Deposit Return Scheme, (c) alcohol advertising ban and (d) abortion clinic buffer zones po…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the (a) conversion therapy ban, (b) Deposit Return Scheme, (c) alcohol advertising ban and (d) abortion clinic buffer zones policy was approved by the Cabinet.
The answer
Further information about each of these policy matters is as follows.
(a) Conversion therapy
A ban on conversion therapy was a commitment in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. It was agreed by Cabinet in August 2021, both as part of the Bute House Agreement and as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22.
(b) Deposit Return Scheme
A commitment to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme was agreed by Cabinet in August 2017 as part of the Programme for Government 2017-18.
Cabinet agreed the design of the Deposit Return Scheme in April 2019 and agreed the original commencement date for inclusion in legislation in January 2020.
The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 were approved by the Scottish Parliament in May 2020 and Parliament agreed The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2022 in February 2022.
Cabinet has been updated and had the opportunity to comment on the implementation plans for the scheme on many occasions.
(c) Alcohol advertising
A commitment to introduce restrictions on alcohol advertising in locations where children would be readily exposed to it was included in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. A commitment to consult on such restrictions was agreed by Cabinet in August 2021 as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation approved the publication of this consultation paper in November 2022.
(d) Safe access zones
A commitment to support any local authority that wants to establish byelaws to create protest-free buffer zones outside clinics that provide abortion services was included in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. Cabinet agreed this commitment in August 2021 as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation agreed to support the development and drafting of Gillian Mackay’s Member’s Bill (the Proposed Abortion Services Safe Access Zones (Scotland) Bill) in July 2022.
(a) Conversion therapy
A ban on conversion therapy was a commitment in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. It was agreed by Cabinet in August 2021, both as part of the Bute House Agreement and as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22.
(b) Deposit Return Scheme
A commitment to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme was agreed by Cabinet in August 2017 as part of the Programme for Government 2017-18.
Cabinet agreed the design of the Deposit Return Scheme in April 2019 and agreed the original commencement date for inclusion in legislation in January 2020.
The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 were approved by the Scottish Parliament in May 2020 and Parliament agreed The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2022 in February 2022.
Cabinet has been updated and had the opportunity to comment on the implementation plans for the scheme on many occasions.
(c) Alcohol advertising
A commitment to introduce restrictions on alcohol advertising in locations where children would be readily exposed to it was included in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. A commitment to consult on such restrictions was agreed by Cabinet in August 2021 as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation approved the publication of this consultation paper in November 2022.
(d) Safe access zones
A commitment to support any local authority that wants to establish byelaws to create protest-free buffer zones outside clinics that provide abortion services was included in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto. Cabinet agreed this commitment in August 2021 as part of the Programme for Government 2021-22. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation agreed to support the development and drafting of Gillian Mackay’s Member’s Bill (the Proposed Abortion Services Safe Access Zones (Scotland) Bill) in July 2022.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-15706 by reference.