Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Public Health Update

29 January 2024 · Department of Health and Social Care

Proposed by Andrea Leadsom Con South Northamptonshire

EnvironmentNHSTaxation

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

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At a glance

Key points

  • UK government responding to consultation on creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping.
  • Plans to introduce legislation to ban the sale of disposable vapes and explore an import ban.
  • Additional funding for local authority stop smoking services and a new illicit tobacco strategy by HMRC and Border Force are included.

Issue summary

The UK government is responding to a consultation on creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping.

Action requested

The government plans to introduce legislation to ban the sale of disposable vapes, explore an import ban, and provide additional funding for local authority stop smoking services. The response also includes a new illicit tobacco strategy by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Border Force with increased enforcement capabilities over five years.

Key facts

  • Tobacco is responsible for 80,000 deaths in the UK per year.
  • Around one in five 11-17-year-olds in Great Britain have tried vaping.
  • The consultation received nearly 28,000 valid responses from stakeholders across the UK.
  • A clear majority (63.2%) supported creating a smokefree generation.
  • The government will double funding for local authority stop smoking services.
  • HMRC and Border Force published a new illicit tobacco strategy called 'Stubbing Out the Problem'.
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