West of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie has welcomed the new test scheme at Whitecrook in Clydebank to tackle smoking.
Whitecrook has been named as one of the eight test sites in Scotland which will test an intensive approach to tackling the nation's health inequalities, the difference in health and life expectancy experienced between the rich and the poor. The Neighbourhood of Whitecrook will be testing smoking cessation diffusion. Different anti-tobacco initiatives will be launched to tackle different groups from teenagers to the adult population. Hopefully lessons will be learned on how to improve the health of deprived communities across Scotland.
"I am encouraged by the launch of this test scheme to reduce smoking rates in West Dunbartonshire. West Dunbartonshire has a very serious problem with cigarettes with a third of local residents smoking.
"West Dunbartonshire's smoking attitudes must be changed as too many underage children currently smoke. I hope this new scheme will go some way to reduce West Dunbartonshire's shocking smoking statistics.
"I am pleased the government has finally realised that health inequalities are linked to areas of deprivation. I would now encourage the government to start doing more than just test schemes to address these inequalities.
