Alex Cunningham wished the hon. Member a happy birthday and highlighted issues such as high smoking rates among pregnant women in deprived communities, suggesting that specific action is needed to address these problems. In the north-east, the average gross disposable income is £16,995 per household, which is 43% lower than in London. According to ASH analysis, 42% of households containing smokers live in poverty in the north-east compared with only 17% in London, affecting 112,000 north-east households. Cunningham argued against the Government's argument that a 'polluter pays' levy on tobacco manufacturers is complex and would take years to implement, citing the precedent set by pharmaceutical schemes overseen by health legislation. Over the years, we have seen smoking in public places and all sorts of other things change under Labour and Conservative Governments. However, in communities such as Stockton Town Centre ward in my constituency, smoking rates are still several times higher than that, and there are very high figures for smoking during pregnancy—way above the Government target.

Andrew Gwynne discussed the progress made in reducing smoking rates but highlighted that there is still much to do. He pointed out that smoking continues to be the leading preventable cause of ill health and mortality, with 78,000 deaths per year in the UK and 44,000 cancer diagnoses annually, nearly 70% of which are caused by smoking. Gwynne also mentioned that smoking costs Tameside over £95 million annually in lost productivity and healthcare expenses, while in Stockport it amounts to just above £77 million.

I expressed concerns about the unintended consequences on small pubs and clubs, suggesting that the Smokefree 2030 policy should include exemptions or support measures for these businesses. I also highlighted the need to balance public health goals with economic considerations.

Gregory Campbell congratulated the hon. Member on his birthday and securing the debate, stressing the importance of engaging younger elements in communities to achieve a smoke-free society by 2030.

I raised the issue of the potential impact on small businesses and their employees, urging for a more tailored approach to support these communities. I also mentioned the importance of public health initiatives in reducing smoking rates among disadvantaged groups. Mr Williams discussed the delay in implementing smoking bans in Wales, estimating that between 15 and 20 people could have contracted smoking-related illnesses due to this delay. He highlighted the importance of policy divergence over devolution, citing the Welsh Government's approach to health as an example. Mr Williams also mentioned the financial impact of smoking on public health, noting around 5,600 deaths in Wales in 2018 were attributable to smoking and costing £300 million annually to the NHS. He expressed concern over delays in publishing England's tobacco control plan and called for measures such as raising the age of sale to 21 and introducing tougher regulations on smoking.

I noted the progress made in reducing smoking rates but emphasised the importance of continuing to address inequalities in access to cessation services. I also called for greater investment in programmes that help smokers quit, particularly in deprived areas. Jim Shannon highlighted the importance of tackling smoking in Northern Ireland, noting that it is the leading cause of premature death with 2,300 people dying annually. He stressed the need to reduce smoking rates and discussed measures such as health warnings on cigarettes and cigarette papers, pack inserts providing health information, and retail licensing for tobacco retailers. Shannon also mentioned the implementation of tracking and tracing schemes. Thanking the Minister for her response to this issue, Jim Shannon highlighted that Northern Ireland has the highest rate of deaths due to smoking. He inquired about potential discussions with the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Health Minister, Robin Swann, to enable them to catch up on achieving their goals.

I questioned the effectiveness of current policies and suggested a need for further research on public smoking impacts before implementing new restrictions. I also raised concerns about potential job losses in hospitality sectors due to proposed changes.

Smoking is a lethal addiction disproportionately affecting the disadvantaged in society, particularly in Gateshead where smoking rates are higher than the national average. This leads to lower life expectancy, higher health costs, and significant economic impacts for individuals and communities. Liz Twist emphasises the need for increased funding for stop smoking services, which have seen cuts since 2015, and highlights successful financial incentive schemes for pregnant smokers that should be scaled up with adequate funding. The Minister has spoken about the great progress that has been made in 11 years, but it is time to start expecting the people who caused this problem to pay for the cost of further tobacco control measures and getting people off smoking.

Mary Glindon congratulated the hon. Member on his birthday and argued for more support for the vaping industry as part of a harm-reduction strategy, emphasizing its economic benefits. Mary Glindon advocated for vaping as a reduced risk alternative to smoking, citing reports by Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians that highlight the potential benefits of vape products.