Thank you for contacting me about actions the Government is taking to ensure the UK achieves the ambition of being smokefree by 2030.
As a leading cause of preventable death across our country, responsible for around 74,600 deaths across England in 2019, reducing smoking is crucial for ensuring we live longer, healthier lives. It is welcome therefore that the Government has set the bold ambition for England to be smoke-free by 2030.
In 2017, the Government published the latest Tobacco Control Plan. Whilst Covid-19 has disrupted some of the Plan’s delivery, a review in June 2021 found that of 82 milestones with a delivery date by 31 December 2021, 54 were already complete with the rest making progress.
As my colleague Maggie Throup - the Public Health Minister - said at the ASH Parliamentary Reception on 9 March, the Government is committed to publishing an updated Tobacco Control Plan later this year.
The revised Tobacco Control Plan will consider the findings of an independent review – led by Javed Khan - of progress towards delivering a smoke-free England.
The independent review made a number of recommendations, which included prohibiting smoking outside in hospitality venues; making hospital grounds smoke-free; and reducing smoking in social housing. I understand the Government intends to consider the detail of the review in full before responding in due course.
Ministers have confirmed that they are considering a range of interventions for the plan, including those suggested by the APPG on Smoking and Health and those put forward as amendments to the Health and Care Act.
Whilst I do not as a rule sign pledges as I prefer to take my own policy positions based on what I judge to be in the best interests of my constituents, I fully support the Government’s efforts to cut smoking rates in the UK and the associated health damage it causes.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
