Key Facts

• The Committee will meet at specific times across dates between April 30th to May 23rd.
• Oral evidence sessions are scheduled for various organisations including Cancer Research UK, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), British Heart Foundation, Asthma + Lung UK, Department for Education’s Secondary Headteacher Reference Group, Age UK, Local Government Association, Fresh and Balance North East, British Retail Consortium, The Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, Professor Linda Bauld OBE from the University of Edinburgh, and others.
• Proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee shall be taken in a specific order.
• George Howarth chairs the Public Bill Committee discussion on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
• Witnesses include Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), and Sheila Duffy, chief executive of ASH Scotland.
• The legislation aims to reduce smoking rates through incremental measures such as raising the age of sale for tobacco products.
• Sheila Duffy discusses the impact of tobacco industry marketing on young people.
• Deborah Arnott presents evidence on the economic costs of smoking.
• Claire Newell mentions clauses 61, 62, and 63 as crucial for preventing vapes from appealing to children.
• Smoke-free laws were implemented due to strong evidence of second-hand smoke causing lung cancer and heart disease.
• Children are most aware of vape promotions in stores and online.
• Clause 63 does not currently allow for changes in the general product requirements set out in the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations.
• The burden of smoking falls unevenly, with a third more smokers in the most deprived areas.
• About 350 young people start smoking each day in the UK.
• Smoking is responsible for about 15,000 deaths annually from heart and circulatory disease in the UK.
• No safe age or number of cigarettes to smoke; over two-thirds of those who start smoking become lifelong smokers.
• Children in households where adults smoke are four times more likely to smoke themselves and find it harder to quit.
• Second-hand smoke causes cardiovascular disease, with exposure equivalent to smoking nine cigarettes a day.
• The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to create a smoke-free generation.
• 51% of retailers support the Bill.
• Nicotine is highly addictive, comparable to heroin and cocaine.
• George Howarth introduces Matthew Shanks as chair of the Secondary Headteacher Reference Group and CEO of Education South West.
• Patrick Roach is introduced as general secretary of NASUWT, the teachers’ union.
• The discussion focuses on under-age smoking or vaping in schools.
• Vaping has increased significantly among secondary-aged pupils over the past three or four years.
• Three quarters of teachers report a significant increase in vaping participation by pupils.
• Vape products are often disguised as hard drives, highlighter sticks, or other common items to avoid detection.
• The NASUWT conducted a survey involving 4,000 teachers.
• Vaping can lead to classroom disruption, multiple school evacuations in a day, and negative impacts on children's mental and physical health.
• Schools are concerned about the availability of vapes near schools and their marketing strategies targeting young people.
• Children are spending lunch money on vapes instead of nutritious food.
• Disposable vapes are cheap as chips and easily accessible near schools.
• Schools have introduced systems to ensure children are fed at lunchtimes.
• George Howarth thanks the witnesses for their testimony.
• The session with Paul Farmer, chief executive of Age UK, is scheduled until 11:25 am.
• Age UK supports the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
• Polling shows 69% of over-65s support the legislation.
• Smoking is responsible for half the difference in healthy life expectancy between the most and least affluent communities.
• People living in areas with the lowest healthy life expectancy are 1.7 times more likely to smoke than those in high-life-expectancy areas.
• The Committee will meet again at 2 pm in the Boothroyd room to continue taking oral evidence.
• Further consideration was ordered by Aaron Bell.