Enforcement officers fear funding could be withdrawn

The Scottish Government is ending ring-fenced funding as part of a deal with councils.

The body representing environmental health officers said some local authorities might remove funding for enforcing the smoking ban.

The Scottish Government said it was providing record funding to councils.

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) said environmental health officers from some councils had expressed concerns.

'Financial pressures'

They said they had failed to win assurances that money would continue to be used for front-line enforcement of the smoking ban.

REHIS president Robert Howe said: "Although the continued Scottish Government funding is intended for front-line enforcement, the cash no longer has to be accounted for.

"We believe financial pressures will tempt some local authorities to spend the money elsewhere.

"In some cases, the funding may not even reach environmental health departments, let alone be used specifically in support of smoke-free legislation.

"Resources must continue to be deployed on the front-line, or the smoking ban could yet fail."

Ring-fenced funding will be cut from about 25% in this financial year to about 4% in the next.