Key Facts

• Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Sir Francis Atherton, Professor Sir Michael McBride, and Professor Sir Gregor Ian Smith gave evidence.
• The panel stresses that tobacco is highly addictive in all forms and causes significant health issues.
• The chief medical officers argue that the Bill supports choice by preventing addiction rather than removing it.
• There is a consensus across the medical community supporting the Bill.
• Smoking in pregnancy affects stillbirth, premature birth, small for dates babies, and birth deformities.
• Pregnant women in their late teens or early twenties have the highest rate of smoking.
• In Northern Ireland, smoking rates are over three times higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived areas.
• In Scotland in 2023, there were 5,500 pregnancies where the mother was recorded as still being a smoker and an additional 6,000 where the mother was a former smoker.
• Wales aims to reduce smoking prevalence from about 13% currently to 5% by 2030 through the Bill.
• In Wales, there are about 5,500 deaths each year from smoking-related diseases.
• Hospital admissions due to smoking-related issues account for approximately 5% of overall hospital admissions in the over-35 group.
• Northern Ireland sees more than 2,000 deaths annually directly attributable to smoking cigarettes.
• Scotland has 9,000 deaths a year attributed to tobacco addiction and smoking, one death every 61 minutes.
• The Scottish burden of disease study projects a 21% increase in the general burden of disease across Scotland by 2043.
• The evidence suggests vaping is harmful to young people.
• Sports companies are using their appeal to promote vape products.
• Professor Sir Gregor Ian Smith and Professor Sir Chris Whitty agree on the need for stricter regulations.
• The Bill aims to stop selling vapes to under-18s and prevent family members from buying on their behalf.
• Over the last three years, vaping among children and young people has tripled.
• No prescription vape products are currently available for use.
• The committee has 14 minutes left before concluding.
• Three members have not yet spoken and wish to do so.
• Professor Sir Chris Whitty discusses the consensus on using some flavours to help smokers quit but warns of industry manipulation.
• The Bill gives Ministers power to restrict product attractiveness to prevent attracting non-smokers and children.
• Social media influencers are a concern in marketing vaping products, especially for young people.
• The session ends at 10:55 am.
• Professor Sir Stephen Powis is the national medical director of NHS England.
• Kate Brintworth is the chief midwifery officer for NHS England.
• Smoking is the single biggest modifiable risk factor for pregnant women.
• Quit rates among pregnant women are between 30% and 40%.
• Smoking increases stillbirths by 47%, doubles the likelihood of a baby not growing properly, and makes premature birth 27% more likely.
• In deprived areas, 21% of pregnant women smoked at delivery in 2021-22 compared to 5.6% in least deprived areas.
• Smoking is considered the most significant driver of health inequalities in the UK.
• The Bill could prevent about 30,000 new cases of smoking-related lung cancer every year.
• Vaping has a relatively small impact on the NHS compared to smoking but numbers are increasing.
• Admissions related to vaping have doubled over recent years.
• Nicotine crosses through the placental barrier affecting both mother and baby's health.
• Smoking-related illnesses cost the NHS about £2.5 billion a year.
• Professor Kamila Hawthorne works as a GP in a deprived area of Wales where she sees many patients with smoking-related chronic obstructive airways disease.
• The speaker thanks witnesses for their information and acknowledges support from medical professionals for the Bill.
• Nicotine is harmful and causes developmental issues in foetuses.
• Vaping contains nicotine which affects learning outcomes and future economic productivity.
• Long-term effects of vaping are not well understood beyond short-term risks like popcorn lung.
• The session has about 13 or 14 minutes remaining.
• Four Members want to ask questions.
• Professor Turner notes that vaping in schools disrupts education and affects children with asthma.
• Dr Caroline Johnson refers to testimony from Dr Helen Stewart about second-hand effects of vaping on children.
• Professor Hawthorne supports the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as a landmark suggestion.