Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Smoke-free England

29 March 2022 · 4 other contributors · 4,318 words

Opened by Charles Walker Con Broxbourne

Responding minister: Maggie Throup

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Charles Walker raised concerns about smoke-free england in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Government aims for Britain to be smoke-free by 2030 with current smoking rates at 13.5%
  • Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable mortality in England, disproportionately affecting poorer areas
  • Minister discussed plans for a new tobacco control plan focusing on reducing health disparities, including support for pregnant women who smoke

Key requests to Government

I urge the Government to embrace harm reduction strategies such as vaping and nicotine pouches, which are significantly less harmful than smoking. The regulatory environment should differentiate between combustible tobacco products and lower-harm alternatives, using taxation to signpost smokers towards safer options. Additionally, addressing smoking among those with mental health conditions is crucial for reducing life expectancy disparities.

How the debate unfolded

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

Opened the debate

Charles Walker Con Broxbourne

I am concerned that the Government are not tackling smoking rates as aggressively as they should, particularly in deprived areas where smoking prevalence is significantly higher. Currently, over 14% of the adult population smokes, resulting in approximately 75,000 deaths and 500,000 hospital admissions annually due to smoking-related illnesses. There are stark disparities; some of the most deprived wards have smoking rates above 22%, while wealthier areas have rates below 5%. This translates into an eight-year differential in life expectancy between smokers and non-smokers, with about half of that differential linked to smoking.

Other contributors (4)
  • Adam Afriyie Con Windsor

    Mr Afriyie expressed optimism about the opportunity to reduce smoking-related deaths by encouraging smokers to switch to vaping. He cited a POSTnote that showed a decline in public perception of e-cigarettes' safety, from one in 20 people thinking it was as harmful as smoking in 2013 to over half thinking so today. He also mentioned that no deaths have been linked to vaping while smoking causes approximately 75,000 deaths annually. Mr Afriyie suggested directing research funding towards studying long-term effects of vaping and allowing healthcare professionals to experiment with switching smokers to vaping in specific scenarios.

  • Ben Bradley

    Ben Bradley agreed with Adam Afriyie's point about the importance of informing people about less harmful alternative products like vapes and 'heat not burn' devices. He suggested that a simple slip of paper in cigarette packets could provide crucial information, advocating for empowering individuals through better communication rather than imposing bans.

  • Mary Glindon Lab Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend

    Congratulates the hon. Member for this Adjournment debate, advocating for access to evidence on e-cigarettes for medical professionals to encourage harm reduction and successful switching. Mary Glindon asked the Minister to support efforts encouraging adult smokers to quit by speaking with local authority stop smoking services during April's campaign, particularly highlighting the role of e-cigarettes in reducing harm.

  • Harriet Harman Lab Camden Central

    I agree with the emphasis on harm reduction and supporting smokers in quitting. The Government's report from July 2017 highlights the disparity in smoking rates between different socioeconomic groups, noting that smoking prevalence is almost three times higher among the lowest earners compared to the highest earners.

Government Response

Maggie Throup

The Government aim for Britain to be smoke-free by 2030 with current smoking rates at 13.5%. Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable mortality in England, disproportionately affecting poorer areas where smoking rates are as high as 23% compared to 8% in wealthier ones. The Minister discussed plans for a new tobacco control plan focusing on reducing health disparities, including support for pregnant women who smoke. She mentioned an independent review led by Javed Khan and the exploration of reduced-risk products like vaping as alternatives to smoking.

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