Smoking

I read about a smoking cessation scheme the other day - one that's to be tried out in Glasgow soon - with the offer of £400 to women who quit smoking during pregnancy.

I have to admit I have some reservations - as an ex-smoker myself.

Because what difference will £400 make - if the women can't see that the very act of not buying fags - will leave a lot more money in their purse every day of every week?

The price of a packet of cigarettes is £6 these days - or £5 possibly, if you buy a cheaper brand.

So a woman smoking twenty cigarettes a day would save around £40 a week - just by giving up the evil weed - which is not easy but there's a clear financial incentive.

And there's also plenty of free advice, support, patches and nicotine gum - to help people give up - if old-fashioned will power is not enough.

Never mind the health of their unborn babies.

So I'd take some persuading that a new scheme offering a series of £50 vouchers - is going to make any difference - though I am willing to be proved wrong.

One thing that would help convince me - is to hear more about a scheme in Tayside  which was launched in 2010 - but no details were reported that I've seen anyway.

The Glasgow scheme is going ahead at a cost of over £750,000 - which is not to be sniffed at in this day and age.

Unless there are hugely impressive results - the end result will be £750,000 going up in smoke - which would be a terrible waste of money.

So let's see what the people behind the project - have to say in a year's time.