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Smokefree 2030 Target
20 June 2023
Lead MP
Bob Blackman
Harrow East
Con
Responding Minister
Neil O'Brien
Tags
NHSEconomyTaxationMental Health
Word Count: 11594
Other Contributors: 10
At a Glance
Bob Blackman raised concerns about smokefree 2030 target in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government must find additional funding to support the Smokefree 2030 ambition. They should consider a 'polluter pays' levy on tobacco manufacturers and explore retail licensing for tobacco products.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The Government's funding for the Smokefree 2030 ambition is insufficient, providing only a quarter of what was recommended by Dr Javed Khan's independent review. Smoking costs the UK economy £173 billion annually and causes around 75,000 premature deaths per year. The public health grant has fallen by a quarter in real terms since 2015, and funding for tobacco control has almost halved. Without sufficient investment, the Smokefree 2030 ambition is at critical risk.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Mr Gwynne thanked Members for their work on the Smokefree 2030 target, noting that smoking is a significant cause of cancer and death in the UK. He expressed concern over cuts to smoking cessation services since 2015-16 and increasing smoking rates in deprived areas, which could exacerbate health inequalities. Mr Gwynne asked the Minister for clarity on his Department's confidence in achieving the target compared to Cancer Research UK's estimates.
The UK's Department of Health and Social Care's announcement in response to the Khan smoking review was a positive step but there is a risk that the Smokefree 2030 target will be missed, with an estimated 13.3% of adults still smoking. Embracing all smoking alternatives like vaping, gum, patches, NHS stop smoking services, and 'heat not burn' products can give the UK its best chance of hitting the target.
Agrees with Neil Hudson's view on the need for trading standards to enforce laws against illegal vapes, counterfeit tobacco, and underage sales to secure a safer environment for consumers. Gareth Johnson intervened to discuss vaping's life-saving potential when smokers switch from traditional cigarettes. He argued that while measures should be in place to prevent non-smokers, especially children, from using vapes, the government must not discourage smokers from switching to alternatives like vaping and heat-not-burn products.
Arfon
I highlighted the importance of reducing smoking among young people in Wales and England. Smoking is a significant cause of preventable death, particularly affecting those living in poverty. The Welsh Government's tobacco control plan aims to make Wales smoke-free by 2030 but faces challenges due to reserved powers in Westminster. Key measures such as warnings on cigarettes and regulations for e-cigarettes are needed but cannot be implemented without devolved powers. A 'polluter pays' levy would raise £700 million annually, supporting the programme both in England and Wales.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon supported the Smokefree 2030 target, welcoming the UK Government's announcement of bold measures to make England smoke-free by 2030. He highlighted healthcare pressure due to smoking-related diseases in Northern Ireland, noting that smoking causes over seven in ten cases of lung cancer there and costs £172 million annually in hospital expenses. Shannon also mentioned projections indicating a significant increase in lung cancer cases among men (74%) and women (91%) by 2035. He called for urgent action to reduce smoking rates, citing the need for a consultation on cigarette pack inserts and discussions on tackling illicit tobacco trade.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Smoking is a lethal addiction concentrated among the poorest in society, with over a third of smokers now in the bottom 20% of income distribution. In Gateshead, 22,000 adults smoked at a cost of £7 million to NHS and £5.4 million to local authority social care in 2021. Liz Twist called for investment in stop smoking services and mental health support as essential steps towards achieving the Smokefree 2030 ambition.
Martyn Day
SNP
Lincolnshire North East
Emphasized the importance of achieving a smoke-free Scotland by 2034, citing support from three quarters of adults in Scotland and significant health benefits since the smoking ban. He highlighted the financial burden of smoking on public services and suggested implementing a 'polluter pays' levy to fund tobacco control measures.
Mary Foy
Lab
City of Durham
Tobacco continues to kill an estimated one person every five minutes in Britain, with the north-east having some of the highest rates of smoking. In this region alone, nearly 13,000 people died prematurely from smoking between 2017 and 2019 at a cost of over £164 million to healthcare and social care. Regional funding for behavioural change campaigns has been cut by around 90% since 2008.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
I acknowledge that vaping has a role in helping adults quit tobacco smoking but highlights the unintended consequences of youth vaping, including health and environmental concerns. He supports stronger measures to address this issue. Mr Hudson raised concerns about the risks disposable vapes pose to animals, citing an incident where his dog found a melon-flavoured disposable vape in the undergrowth. He urged for increased public awareness of the health, environmental and animal-related risks associated with these products.
Birmingham Erdington
Ms Hamilton highlighted the health impacts of smoking, noting that it causes around 150 cases of cancer per day in the UK. She mentioned more than 10,000 people are admitted to hospital each year in Birmingham and Solihull due to smoking-related issues. She also pointed out the tobacco industry's efforts to undermine public health measures and its increased marketing plans that target young people. Ms Hamilton emphasized the need for strategies to prevent youth from starting smoking and stressed the importance of proper research on e-cigarettes, given their potential risks.
Government Response
Neil O'Brien
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Sharma. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) and the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mary Kelly Foy) for securing this hugely important debate, and I thank other hon. Members for some excellent speeches. In 2019, the Government introduced an ambition to make England smoke-free by 2030, focusing on preventing children from starting smoking, helping smokers quit, and moving them towards less harmful alternatives like vapes. The Minister highlighted significant progress in reducing adult smoking rates to 13% and youth smoking rates to 3.3% among 15-year-olds. To further this goal, the Government introduced a new national 'swap to stop' scheme aimed at helping one million smokers switch from cigarettes to vaping devices. They also doubled cigarette duty and introduced a minimum excise tax on the cheapest cigarettes. The Minister announced measures to reduce youth vaping, including closing loopholes that allowed free samples of vapes, increasing education efforts, and supporting dedicated school police liaison officers. To tackle illicit tobacco trade, HMRC will produce a new strategy later this year. For pregnant women who smoke, a financial incentive scheme is in place along with behavioural support. The Government aims to ensure every pregnant smoker in England receives help to quit smoking. Additionally, they are signposting mental health patients to stop smoking services due to the link between the two. Plans include pack inserts in smoked tobacco packets with positive messages and information to encourage quitting. The Minister stated that consultations on this matter will be conducted shortly and engagement with devolved Administrations is ongoing.
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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.