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National No Smoking Day
09 March 2023
Lead MP
Bob Blackman
Harrow East
Con
Responding Minister
Neil O'Brien
Tags
Local Government
Word Count: 11480
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Bob Blackman raised concerns about national no smoking day in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The hon. Member asks for a commitment to introduce a 'polluter pays' charge on the tobacco industry and calls for additional, sustainable funding in next week's Budget to support measures aimed at making England smoke-free by 2030. He also requests that the Government respond promptly to Javed Khan's review of tobacco control.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The hon. Member is concerned about the high number of smokers in the UK, with 6.6 million people regularly smoking and causing self-inflicted harm. He mentions that every day in England, there are 150 new cancer cases linked to smoking and a person admitted to hospital for a smoking-related illness every minute. The hon. Member also points out the socioeconomic disparity where poorer areas like Kingston upon Hull have higher smoking rates at 22%, while more affluent regions like west Oxfordshire see only 3.2% of households containing smokers.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
He praised the work of the hon. Member for Harrow East on smoke-free England 2030 and highlighted progress made in reducing smoking rates since 1984, noting that despite this success, political will is needed to meet the target by 2030. He raised questions about the tobacco control plan's publication date and the response to Javed Khan's smoke-free review. He also asked for information on media spending for stop smoking campaigns and details of the public health grant.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Ms Liz Twist highlighted the significant health inequalities caused by smoking, particularly in deprived areas. She mentioned that smoking is responsible for half of the difference in life expectancy between rich and poor. In her constituency, healthy life expectancy is 58 years, five years lower than the national average. The Fresh programme has seen success but needs further investment to continue its work. Ms Twist called for a 'polluter pays' tax on cigarettes to raise funds for smoking cessation services and urged the Government to implement the Khan review recommendations. Acknowledges progress in reducing smoking rates from 31% to 17% by 2019 but calls for further measures. Supports considering the prohibition of smoking in areas such as public playgrounds and outdoor care spaces. She intervened to ask if the tobacco control plan would come within the major conditions strategy.
Mary Foy
Lab
City of Durham
Mary Foy, vice-chair of the APPG on smoking and health, highlighted the serious impact of smoking in the north-east of England, noting over 113,000 deaths from smoking-related illnesses since 2000. She emphasised the link between smoking and dementia, pointing out that only one in five smokers are aware of this risk. Foy also discussed the importance of local initiatives like Fresh but stressed the need for more national investment to meet the smoke-free 2030 goal.
Mary Glindon
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Congratulates Bob Blackman on securing the debate, discusses personal experiences with smoking in family, highlights vaping as a safer alternative. Mentions recommendations from the Khan report to promote vaping for quitting smoking. Quoted experts stating vaping is drastically lower in cancer causing levels compared to smoking. Raises concerns about rogue retailers selling e-cigarettes to minors and calls for increased penalties. Discusses the need for tighter controls on non-compliant products and the importance of single-use vapes as a cost-effective way to quit smoking.
Mary Kelly Foy
Lab
City of Durham
Highlights the significant link between smoking and dementia, noting research showing that quitting smoking reduces the risk of dementia. Points out that smoking remains a major cause of cancer and death, using considerable NHS resources.
Steve McCabe
Lab
Birmingham Selly Oak
Mr McCabe acknowledged the work of Cancer Research UK and called for a comprehensive smoking cessation service, especially in deprived areas. He emphasised that more should be done to protect young people from taking up smoking.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Tobacco companies are recruiting new generations of smokers for big profits, causing around 75,000 deaths annually. The vaping industry is targeting children with different products and flavours to addict a generation. Labour wants an ambitious plan that targets tobacco giants and helps victims recover their health. Suggests a windfall tax on tobacco manufacturers given the costs borne by public services for products that cause considerable harm. Emphasises the need to address smoking during pregnancy as highlighted in the Khan review.
Stuart McDonald
SNP
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
Acknowledges progress in reducing smoking rates but highlights the immense personal and communal impact of smoking. Cites ASH Scotland data indicating that smoking causes 100,000 hospitalisations and 9,000 deaths annually in Scotland. Emphasises how smoking exacerbates health inequalities with one in three people smoking in deprived areas compared to one in ten in least deprived communities.
Virendra Sharma
Lab
Ealing, Southall
Welcomed progress in smoking policy and noted that working-class and black and minority ethnic communities struggle more with quitting. Suggested vaping as a less harmful alternative. Does the hon. Lady agree that vaping represents a less harmful alternative and needs to be regulated safely? Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government's strategy and plan should include special provision for black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, so that they can be targeted and helped to give up this dirty habit?
Government Response
Neil O'Brien
Government Response
Acknowledged the progress in reducing smoking rates to an all-time low of 13%, highlighted investments of £68 million in local authority stop smoking services in 2021-22 leading to nearly 100,000 quits last year, mentioned initiatives such as Stoptober which have helped 2.1 million people quit since 2012, and announced a set of proposals to realise the smokefree 2030 ambition in response to Dr Javed Khan's independent review recommendations.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.