House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Smoke-free Society by 2030

23 March 2021 · 3 other contributors · 4,194 words

Opened by David Jones Con Clwyd West

Responding minister: Jo Churchill

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

David Jones raised concerns about smoke-free society by 2030 in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

The ongoing issue of smoking persists across the UK despite a decrease in smokers.
Smoking-related illnesses disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities, ethnic minorities, and those with mental health conditions.
The lead MP asks the government to regulate reduced-risk smoking products and create a robust framework for tobacco harm reduction.

Key requests to Government

The lead MP asks the government to take action by embracing new opportunities provided by Brexit to regulate reduced-risk smoking products and create a robust framework for tobacco harm reduction. He urges the Minister to set out the Department's progress on revising regulations and confirm the publication date of the tobacco control plan.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

David Jones Con Clwyd West

The ongoing issue of smoking persists across the UK despite a decrease in smokers. Smoking-related illnesses disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities, ethnic minorities, and those with mental health conditions. Recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics show declining intentions to quit smoking since 2015, and Cancer Research UK predicts that adult smoking prevalence in England will not reach 5% until 2037, instead of 2030. This indicates a need for faster progress.

Other contributors (3)

Gareth Johnson Con Bexleyheath and Crayford

Mr Johnson supported vaping as a safer alternative to smoking, emphasizing that it is 95% risk free according to Public Health England. He suggested promoting vaping more aggressively post-Brexit by separating its regulations from those of tobacco products.
Ian Paisley Jnr DUP North Antrim

Mr Paisley highlighted the importance of tobacco harm reduction and encouraged the Government to work closely with credible companies in the vaping industry. He also raised concerns about criminality within the sector and mentioned the impact of the Northern Ireland protocol on consumer choice for smoking cessation products.
Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

Mr Shannon expressed concern about the safety of vaping as an alternative to smoking, questioning whether it is truly safer than cigarettes and if there has been a robust examination of its risks.

Government Response

Jo Churchill

The Minister acknowledged the importance of reducing smoking rates across England, with a focus on areas where they remain high. She reiterated that rates are at their lowest level, but wide variations exist between regions. The Government aims to support communities through the levelling-up agenda and intends to publish a new tobacco control plan in summer 2021 as part of this effort. Emphasizing evidence-based policies, she highlighted ongoing research on e-cigarettes and other novel nicotine delivery systems, noting that these products remain less harmful than traditional smoking but are not risk-free. She also mentioned the UK's global leadership in tackling tobacco use and expressed gratitude for contributions from Members to debate this critical issue.