The review calls for enhanced regulation and increased funding, both of which are supported by the majority of voters. I urge the Minister to consider a windfall tax or polluter pays levy on tobacco companies as potential revenue sources. A levy based on sales volumes could raise £700 million annually, more than covering the required additional funding while also limiting excessive profits made by tobacco manufacturers. The Government promised to explore this option in 2019 but have yet to put it into practice. Additionally, I call for a consultation on raising the age of sale to 21 to prevent young people from starting smoking and reduce rates among young mothers.

In the north-east, smoking remains the leading cause of death and inequalities in healthy life expectancy. The all-party group has proposed the polluter pays model as a means to fund essential work on stopping smoking.

I draw the attention of the House to my interests as a vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on smoking and health. I welcome the Minister to his place and congratulate Bob Blackman for an excellent speech, although I will reiterate some points he made. In my constituency of Stockton North, there are still high rates of smoking, especially in areas of deprivation. Despite reductions in overall smoking rates, it remains a significant issue with higher percentages among routine and manual workers. Public health has suffered under 12 years of Conservative rule and the Government's failure to act on smoking regulations. I want to focus on why public health is so important for my constituency: Stockton had 13.2% adult smokers in 2019 compared to 13.9% nationally, rising to 19.1% among routine and manual workers. The proportion of pregnant women smoking in my area (14.1%) was higher than the national average (9.6%). There is an economic argument for investing in cessation services, as smoking costs £62.3 million annually in Stockton North, with £47.2 million lost productivity and £9.2 million spent on NHS treatment. The reduction of smoking rates has stalled recently, and it's important to do more to address this issue. Further regulation could help small businesses by increasing the age of sale to 21 and requiring tobacco companies to pay for services that aid quitting. There are stark inequalities in tobacco use linked to socioeconomic status; poorer communities are disproportionately affected. The north-east region has higher smoking prevalence among low-income households compared with other UK areas, leading to significant health disparities. A new tobacco control plan targeting investment and support towards disadvantaged smokers is necessary for achieving a smoke-free 2030 goal. High smoking rates amongst people with mental health conditions contribute significantly to premature deaths and diseases. The smoking rate among those with serious mental illnesses is more than three times that of the general population, which exacerbates poor mental health. I ask the Minister to commit to protecting public health policies from tobacco industry influence as per WHO regulations.

My hon. Friend Alex Cunningham speaks powerfully about experiences in the north-east and nationally regarding smoking rates. During 2007-2019, our smoking rates declined faster than most of Europe thanks to tough regulations, but they have since stagnated. Research from University College London shows that adult smoking rates fell from 24.1% in 2006 to 14.8% by 2020, only to plateau at around 15%. Additionally, youth uptake of smoking has started rising again after declining year-on-year since 2007. According to UCL modelling, raising the age of sale to tobacco products would reduce smoking among young adults aged between 18 and 20 by a third, helping to narrow inequalities in uptake where disadvantaged children are more likely to start smoking.

The hon. Member congratulates her colleagues on securing the debate and emphasises the importance of tackling smoking to save lives and reduce healthcare costs. She highlights that cigarettes are the only legal product that will kill most users, with more than 60,000 deaths per year attributed to smoking. She also mentions the significant economic burden caused by smoking (£17 billion annually) and argues that the benefits of preventing people from smoking far outweigh any tax revenue generated. Maggie Throup supports the Khan review's recommendation to gradually increase the age of sale for tobacco products until no one can buy them, aiming to create a smoke-free generation. She also calls for additional investment in stop-smoking services and emphasises the importance of making every healthcare contact count as an opportunity to help smokers quit. Furthermore, she discusses e-cigarettes (vapes) and their potential impact on young people, advocating for stricter regulations to prevent illegal sales to minors.

It is a pleasure to speak in this important debate. There has been significant consensus throughout the House on the ambition for England to be smokefree by 2030. I commend Bob Blackman's work on this issue over a long period, particularly his role in the all-party parliamentary group and his way of introducing the motion that allowed us to say, 'We agree with Bob.' My constituency is straddled by two local authorities where smoking costs about £172 million annually due to lost productivity and health care. Since 2015-16, stop smoking services have faced a 33% real-term cut in their budgets which needs urgent reversal. The Government must reverse the decline of public health measures; they should be transparent whether they are scrapping the health disparities White Paper or the tobacco control plan. The Minister's relationship with the tobacco industry is concerning and calls for scrutiny on potential reversals of previous commitments. We need to take bold decisions if we want a smokefree 2030, despite opposition from some quarters. Greater Manchester’s 'Make Smoking History' strategy exemplifies best practices in reducing smoking rates among routine and manual jobs faster than any other region. The Government must act decisively on the Khan review recommendations and legislate accordingly to achieve the Smokefree 2030 goal.

Asked how to ensure that local authority public health continues to be funded adequately so that smoking cessation services can continue, given current financial constraints on local authorities.

Secured the debate and expressed support for the goal of a smoke-free England by 2030.

The debate centres around the recommendations from Dr Javed Khan's independent review into smokefree 2030 policies. The speaker thanks colleagues for their contributions and emphasises the importance of achieving a smoke-free England, which is part of the levelling-up White Paper’s mission to increase life expectancy by five years by 2035. He calls on the Minister to act radically and immediately on the Khan review's proposals, including the need for a tobacco control plan that ends smoking, increases healthy life expectancy, and narrows inequalities. The speaker also proposes the polluter pays levy as a popular, feasible, and supported measure.