Selaine Saxby, Member of Parliament for North Devon, has launched an online survey asking North Devon residents to share their views on the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill, that will be introduced to Parliament as part of the Prime Minister’s strategy to tackle ill health, disability, death, and the rise in youth vaping. This Bill will be on a free vote basis, so Selaine is asking the North Devon community to highlight their views and concerns to ensure her free vote is well informed and is reflective of the community.
The Bill aims to clamp down on youth vaping. There has been a rise in youth vaping, with a fifth of 11 to 17 years old in Great Britain having tried vaping. Measures will stop vapes being deliberately targeted at children, however, it will continue to support adult smokers trying to quit. There will be an introduction of new regulatory making powers to restrict vape flavours, packaging and point of sale displays. Furthermore, the Bill will be met with strong enforcement with the introduction of a new £100 fixed penalty notices in England Wales to tackle underaged sales and to take action against irresponsible traders. It will also extend the existing age of sale for nicotine vapes to include non nicotine vapes and provide powers to introduce age of sale requirements for other nicotine products.
Additionally, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will change the age of sale for all tobacco products, cigarette papers and herbal smoking products so that anyone born on or after the 1st of January 2009 will never legally be sold tobacco. This aims to ensure that young people will not become addicted to smoking and create a Smokefree Generation.
Local MP, Selaine Saxby said:
“As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will have its Second Reading the first week back after Easter recess, it is important to me to hear the views of residents in North Devon. There is no whipping, so it is a free vote and I would like to ensure that your voice is heard on such an important and personal issue.
“As a member of the Environment APPG, I campaigned for the banning of disposable vapes due to the harmful nature of lithium batteries and their impact on our environment as well as my concerns on the health risks for young people. However, I understand that some of the measures outlined are more nuanced, and this survey is an opportunity for you to express your opinion which will help me with my decision. I encourage everyone to contribute to my survey on my website https://www.selainesaxby.org.uk/tobacco-and-vapes-bill-survey.”
The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:
“If we want to build a better future for our children we need to tackle the single biggest entirely preventable cause of ill health, disability and death: smoking.”
“That is why, alongside new measures to curb the alarming rise in youth vaping, we are delivering on our commitment to create a smokefree generation and stop our kids from getting hooked on harmful cigarettes and other nicotine products”.
“This important change will save thousands of lives and billions of pounds for our NHS, freeing up new resource than can be spent to improve outcomes for patients right across the UK.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said:
“Smoking kills. It takes around 80,000 lives in the UK every year and causes 1 in 4 cancer-related deaths. It’s therefore only right we take robust action to protect future generations from these harmful products”.
“Today is a significant milestone, representing the single biggest preventative health policy in a generation with a first-of-its-kind bill aimed at preventing our children and young people from falling prey to a lifetime of nicotine addiction”.
“This landmark legislation will ensure generations to come will have healthier lives, while freeing up NHS capacity by removing the huge pressure caused by smoking-related illness”.
