Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

COP10: WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

18 January 2024 · 5 other contributors · 11,451 words

Opened by Andrew Lewer Con Northampton South

Responding minister: Andrea Leadsom

NHSEnvironment

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Andrew Lewer raised concerns about cop10: who framework convention on tobacco control in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • UK delegation led by Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy will attend COP10 in Panama.
  • The UK opposes further restrictions on advertising and sponsorship for vapes and novel tobacco products.
  • The UK aims to protect national sovereignty while supporting the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Key requests to Government

The Minister should confirm that the UK delegation will block any measures to restrict communication about health benefits and oppose moves towards regulatory equivalence on taxation and price points. The lead MP also requests that the Minister asks the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero to attend COP10, and seeks clarity on who will be in the UK's delegation. Sharma urges the Government to improve funding for specialist services, address the harm caused by tobacco companies, tackle the illegal tobacco trade, and support a harm reduction approach at COP10. He calls on the Minister for Primary Care and Public Health to join the UK delegation in Panama and advocate for evidence-based policy.

How the debate unfolded

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

Opened the debate

Andrew Lewer Con Northampton South

The UK delegation's lack of ministerial representation at COP10 in Panama, despite the importance of the conference for health policy. The lead MP is worried about the WHO's closed-door meetings and sceptical stance on tobacco harm reduction products like vapes and heated tobacco. He cites the potential impact of regulatory equivalence between combustible tobacco and reduced-risk products, which could discourage smokers from switching to safer alternatives. Virendra Sharma is concerned about the lack of funding for targeted social support services in local authorities, which has resulted in lower motivation to quit smoking and higher relapse rates. He highlights that deprived areas are being left behind due to insufficient resources. Additionally, he notes the challenges posed by illegal tobacco sales, under-age smoking, and the appeal of vaping products to children. Sharma also points out that the UK will miss its Smokefree 2030 targets unless further action is taken.

Other contributors (5)
  • Bob Blackman Con Harrow East

    The hon. Member thanked Andrew Lewer for moving the debate and acknowledged his efforts to discuss COP10, emphasizing the importance of understanding the context behind it.

  • Christopher Chope Con Christchurch

    Asked why the UK would be required to follow recommendations from COP10, questioning the sovereignty of decision-making for accepting such recommendations. Christopher Chope questions whether China's regulation of vapes is a concern, suggesting that the WHO may be controlled by Chinese interests. He emphasized the influence of China on the WHO and urged the Minister to lead the UK delegation in Panama. He expressed disappointment at not having clear answers about the Government's position regarding COP10. Will my right hon. Friend comment on the undue influence of China on the WHO, as exemplified in my remarks? China is trying to ensure that its policies are adopted by the WHO, and it seems to be funding the WHO and controlling it. Should we not be concerned about that?

  • David Jones Cons Clwyd West

    David Jones expressed concern about the WHO's stance on tobacco harm reduction and its opposition to reduced-risk products such as vapes. He highlighted that 6.4 million people still smoke in the UK, with vaping helping over 1.5 million quit smoking. The Khan review recommended embracing vaping for tobacco control, but Jones warned against imposing restrictions on reduced-risk product advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship. He noted misinformation about vaping and urged the government to challenge the WHO's stance at COP10. Could the hon. Lady say what measures she proposes to put in place to tackle the issue of youth vaping? Does my right hon. Friend know why the WHO exhibits such hostility to the harm reduction measures that the United Kingdom Government are putting in place?

  • Karin Smyth Lab Bristol South

    The hon. Member expressed concern about the high rates of smoking-related health issues in Bristol South and highlighted the global impact of tobacco, which is responsible for 8 million deaths annually. She supported measures to raise the legal smoking age and integrate opt-out smoking interventions into routine NHS care. The MP also called for stronger regulation of e-cigarettes and vaping products to protect young people from the risks associated with these products.

  • Martyn Day

    He supported the aims of the FCTC treaty but was concerned about e-cigarettes being a gateway drug for young people. He asked the Minister to confirm that the UK delegation would not restrict Scotland's options in delivering its tobacco action plan.

Government Response

Andrea Leadsom

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers. The Government will be represented by Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy at COP10 in Panama. The UK supports the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control but has different views on vapes and novel tobacco products. We oppose further restrictions on advertising and sponsorship and aim to protect sovereignty. The UK is a world leader in tobacco control, advocating for smoke-free generation through legislation that will save lives by reducing smoking rates among 14-30 year-olds to near zero by 2040. The government has doubled funding for stop-smoking services to £138 million annually and introduced incentives for pregnant women to quit. Vapes can be an effective tool for quitting smoking, but the UK will take action to reduce their appeal to children through regulation. A financial incentive scheme for pregnant smokers is planned by the end of 2024. The government is also cracking down on illicit tobacco trade with £30 million extra funding annually.

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