Smoking and vaping: HABIT Expert Group on nicotine product evidence - terms of reference

Background

The Health Attitudes, Behaviours and Inequality Team (HABIT), within the Health and Social Care Analysis Division of the Scottish Government’s Population Health Directorate, provides analytical and evidence-based support to several policy areas including tobacco control. This work includes data collection and analysis, evidence reviews, cross-nation collaboration on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, and development of indicators for the Tobacco and Vaping Framework.

HABIT has established strong relationships with academics whose expertise – ranging from smoke-free spaces to regulatory registers, and from behavioural insights to biomarkers – has been instrumental in ensuring our advice to ministers is grounded in the most robust and up-to-date evidence.

As the Scottish Government enters the next phase of implementing the framework, and begins planning for the bill’s evaluation, it aims to bring together a broad range of academic and research expertise on nicotine product evidence. 

Purpose 

The HABIT Expert Network and Group on nicotine product evidence will provide independent, evidence-based advice to inform both immediate policy decisions and longer-term strategic planning. 

In return, members will benefit from increased visibility of their research among policymakers, greater opportunities to build policy relationships and influence policy-making, and support in identifying future research priorities.

Note: The Scottish Government will not be able to provide funding for research activities associated with this network and/or group.

Remit

Experts who join the network and/or group will be added to the Scottish Government’s internal database and may be involved in the following ways:

• providing ad hoc expert advice 
• sharing, presenting and/or discussing their research (including unpublished work)
• helping address knowledge gaps
• bringing critical perspectives to analytical work and policy discussions
• peer-reviewing Scottish Government outputs
• supporting evaluation work for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
• gaining insight into Scottish Government research priorities and using this to shape their own research or guide student projects

Members of the group will meet regularly.

Members of the network are encouraged to contact Serena Di Genova if they wish to discuss any of the points above.

Timeline for the expert group meetings

The first meeting was held on 26 January 2026 at 11:00 am, chaired by Professor Linda Bauld, Chief Social Policy Advisor for Scottish Government.

Future meetings will take place approximately every six months. 

Membership 

The call for experts circulated by SPRE remains open and may be shared with other suitable candidates by members of the network and/or group. 

Declaration of interest 

The Scottish Government is a party to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and has an obligation to protect the development of public health policy from the vested interests of the tobacco industry.

All experts are required to submit a declaration of interest. Declarations are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and final decisions on eligibility rest with the Scottish Government. Existing members must promptly notify the SG of any changes to their circumstances and update their declaration accordingly. 

Secretariat

Secretariat support is provided by the Scottish Government.