Parliament
Parliament is slowly waking up to the business of sorting out its approach to vaping and we have seen a number of questions and responses recently
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by Dave Cross
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Parliament is slowly waking up to the business of sorting out its approach to vaping and we have seen a number of questions and responses recently. An ever-present during coverage of the last government, Mary Glindon had a number of questions demanding answers. Mary Foy and Claire Hanna also sought clarification on vape related matters.
Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend’s Mary Glindon asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care a plethora of questions:
- What discussions has the Department had with the UK Vaping Industry Association since September 2023?
- Will Wes Streeting meet with the UK Vaping Industry Association to discuss the vaping industry and the Government’s smoke-free ambitions?
- What steps Streeting taking to consult with the vaping industry before the reintroduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill?
- And, will Streeting meet with the UK Vaping Industry Association to discuss the introduction of a Vape Licensing Scheme?
Andrew Gwynne, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, told Mary Glindon: “Since September 2023, the Department has not met with the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA). However, we have received and responded to several items of correspondence.
“The UKVIA, and other members of the vaping industry, did respond to the smoke-free generation and youth vaping consultation that ran from 12 October to 6 December 2023. We will also be consulting further with all interested parties before any future vaping regulations are introduced. Any meeting requests should be sent through the appropriate formal channels.”
Labour’s Mary Glindon continued by asking the Secretary of State if he will include measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to ensure that vapes remain easily accessible as a smoking cessation tool.
Andrew Gwynne responded: “Our position on vapes is clear, that they can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, but that they are not recommended for non-smokers or children, and there are legitimate concerns about the unknown long-term harms from vaping.”
There aren’t legitimate concerns, there is still no evidence of long-term harm. This isn’t to say it shouldn’t be considered.
Gwynne continued: “Following the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, adult smokers will still be able to access vapes as well as other alternative methods to stop smoking. Vapes are commonly used alongside behavioural support within local Stop Smoking Services, helping thousands of adults each year to live healthier lives.
“In addition, we remain committed to our national Swap to Stop scheme, supporting adult smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes under a new national scheme, the first of its kind in the world.”
Labour’s representative for Durham, Mary Foy asked the Secretary of State if he plans to implement the policies set out in response the smokefree generation consultation.
Andrew Gwynne replied: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be the biggest public health intervention in a generation, improving healthy life expectancy and reducing the number of lives lost to the biggest killers.
“Alongside introducing a progressive smoking ban to ensure the next generation can never legally be sold tobacco, the Bill will also stop vapes and other consumer nicotine products from being deliberately branded and advertised to appeal to children. We are additionally considering a range of new measures to put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom and will set out more details soon.”
Finally, Belfast’s Social Democratic and Labour Party rep, Claire Hanna, asked what progress the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has made on introducing a ban on single use vapes.
Mary Creagh, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, told her: “We are reviewing the current proposals to restrict the sale and supply of single use vapes and will outline next steps as soon as possible.”
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave 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.
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