Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government's Tobacco-control action plan, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"Scottish Liberal Democrats introduced the smoking ban in Scotland, providing a major boost to public health and recognising that helping people to stop smoking is a win-win situation.

"Smokers get healthier; children and family members reduce their exposure to passive smoking and in the long term, it reduces the pressure on our hard-pressed health service. Sadly however, the number of attempts to quit smoking has fallen for the fifth consecutive year and smoking is still responsible for 10,000 deaths a year.

"The Scottish Government must ensure that the resources are there to clear the air, especially in our most deprived communities."