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Romford’s Andrew Rosindell asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care if the Department has plans to extend powers from HMRC to Trading Standards to provide on-the-spot fines for retailers selling illegal tobacco and illegal vape products.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, Andrew Gwynne responded: “HM Revenue and Customs does not have the power to issue on-the-spot fines for retailers selling illegal tobacco or vaping products. Those convicted of selling illegal products could face penalties, including imprisonment or an unlimited fine.

“However, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament in the coming weeks, will strengthen enforcement at the local level, to support implementation of the measures in the bill and support our ambition to create a smoke-free United Kingdom. The bill will provide Trading Standards with the option to issue fixed penalty notices, which are on-the-spot fines, for certain offences. The new fixed penalty notices will be in addition to existing sanctions, including the existing fine of £2,500 for underage sales, allowing Trading Standards to take quicker action instead of escalating to a court process.

“A strong and proportionate approach to enforcement is essential to prevent illicit trade and underage sales undermining our efforts to create a smoke-free country. HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force’s new joint illicit tobacco strategy sets out their continued commitment to reduce the trade in, and demand for, illicit tobacco, and to tackle and disrupt the organised crime groups behind the illicit tobacco trade. Work to enhance illicit vapes enforcement, led by National Trading Standards and funded by a £3 million grant over two years, 2023/24 and 2024/25, from the Department of Health and Social Care, will build on existing work to tackle illicit vapes by Trading Standards across the country.”

In the Upper House, Lord Foulkes of Cumnock posed a question during a debate on smoking in public spaces. He asked the Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to extend the ban on smoking in public places. He also asked what the timescale would be and if there would be additional measures in the legislation.

Lord Foulkes said that there is overwhelming public support to ban smoking in beer gardens, on beaches, next to children’s parks, and outside of hospital entrances.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, Baroness Maron said that the soon-to-be published Tobacco and Vapes Bill would “stand to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation and will put us on track to become a smoke-free UK.”

Baroness Merron denied that banning smoking from outdoor spaces would damage the hospitality industry. She said: “After implementing the indoor smoking ban in 2007, 40% of businesses reported a positive impact on their company. Let us not forget that Office for National Statistics data showed that 69% of respondents visited pubs about the same as before, and, interestingly, 17% visited them more.”

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.