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** 18 October 2024
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** UK
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** Chancellor of the Exchequer contemplates tax increase on e-cigarettes (#1)
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** New data on youth vaping and smoking published (#2)
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** CEO of Cancer Research UK calls on ministers to immediately reintroduce Tobacco and Vapes Bill (#3)
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** NHS faces soaring repair costs for deteriorating facilities (#4)
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** Parliamentary questions
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** Written questions (#5)
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** Links of the Week
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** British Thoracic Society (BTS): Professional Development Framework for Adult Respiratory Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) (#6)
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Open Letter: Public Health professionals call for levy on tobacco (#7)


** UK
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** Chancellor of the Exchequer contemplates tax increase on e-cigarettes

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering increasing the tax on vaping products following a consultation held by the previous Conservative government. The proposed tax would aim to curb youth vaping by making it less affordable. Recent NHS data revealed that one in four children aged 11-15 in England tried vaping in 2023, a rise from 22% two years earlier, with nearly 10% using e-cigarettes regularly.

The tax increase on vaping products may coincide with a rise in tobacco duty to avoid encouraging smokers to revert to cigarettes. Additionally, officials are exploring the option of a flat-rate tax on vaping products, rather than one based on nicotine strength, as taxing stronger products more could deter smokers from transitioning to vaping as a cessation method.

Public health advocates stress that any increase in vaping taxes should be matched by a rise in tobacco taxes to maintain the incentive for smokers to switch to vaping. ASH's chief executive, Hazel Cheeseman, supports the idea of a flat-rate tax, arguing that higher taxes on stronger nicotine liquids could discourage smokers from using vaping as a tool to quit smoking.

Source: The Guardian, 18 October 2024

See also: ASH – Press Release on budget decisions on tobacco and vaping ([link removed]) | NHS England - Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023 ([link removed]) | Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023: Data tables ([link removed])
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** New data on youth vaping and smoking published

New data published by the NHS shows an increase in vaping among 11 to 15-year-olds in England, with 25% having tried e-cigarettes in 2023, compared to 22% in 2021. While 9% reported vaping frequently, this rate has not changed since the last survey.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is pressing the government to expedite the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which proposes gradually raising the legal smoking age for individuals born after January 1, 2009, and implementing stricter rules on vape sales and advertising aimed at children. The bill was initially delayed due to the general election but was brought back by the Labour Government in July.

ASH's chief executive, Hazel Cheeseman, stressed the need for swift action, citing concerns over stalling progress in reducing youth smoking and the persistent prevalence of vaping. She warned that without additional regulations, youth vaping rates are unlikely to decline, urging the government to introduce the legislation as soon as possible to protect future generations.

Source: The Independent, 17 October 2024

See also: NHS England - Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023 ([link removed]) | Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023: Data tables ([link removed])
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** CEO of Cancer Research UK calls on ministers to immediately reintroduce Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Cancer Research UK's chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, has urged the government to accelerate the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aimed at phasing out smoking in the UK. Mitchell stressed that further delays could undermine the NHS's shift towards preventive healthcare, given that smoking remains the leading cause of cancer in the country.

Ahead of the Budget, Mitchell called for sustained and adequate funding for smoking cessation services, noting that while annual spending was recently increased, further measures are essential for continued progress. Mitchell also proposed a levy on tobacco company profits to make the industry accountable for its impact on public health and the economy.

Source: The Financial Times, 18 October 2024
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** NHS faces soaring repair costs for deteriorating facilities

The cost to repair England's NHS estate has surged to £13.8bn, more than tripling from £4.5bn in 2012-13, according to NHS England. This marks the first time the expense of clearing the maintenance backlog has exceeded the annual £13.6bn cost of running the health service’s infrastructure. NHS officials attribute the growing backlog to a lack of capital investment during the years of Conservative governance, resulting in widespread deterioration of buildings and equipment.

The escalating repair needs have had a significant impact on patient care, with maintenance failures causing clinical services to be cancelled or disrupted over 3,300 times last year, leading to a loss of nearly 14,600 hours of clinical time valued at £7.2m. The NHS Confederation estimates an additional £6.4bn per year is needed over the next three years to address the maintenance issues and keep facilities operational.

Amidst calls for increased capital funding in the upcoming budget, NHS England's chair, Richard Meddings, announced his decision to step down in March, a year ahead of schedule, following discussions with the health secretary.

Source: The Guardian, 17 October 2024

See also: NHS England - Estates Returns Information Collection, Management Information – Provisional Summary Figures for 2023/24 ([link removed])
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written questions

Asked by Andrew Rosindell, Conservative, Romford

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the annual tax revenue loss from (a) illicit and (b) non-duty paid tobacco.

Answered by James Murray, Labour, Ealing North

 The new joint HMRC and Border Force strategy to tackle illicit tobacco was published earlier this year, ‘Stubbing out the problem’. The strategy: targets the demand for illicit trade (the consumers that criminals seek to exploit) as well as the supply (the criminals themselves) is supported by over £100 million new funding over the next 5 years to boost HMRC and Border Force enforcement capability establishes a new, cross-government Illicit Tobacco Taskforce – combining the operational, investigative and intelligence expertise of various agencies, and enhancing our ability to disrupt organised crime. HMRC estimates the size of the illicit market using tax gap data, which is reported annually. The duty gap for tobacco duty is 14.5% of the theoretical tobacco duty liability, or £1.7 billion in absolute terms, in tax year 2022 to 2023. The tax gap for tobacco includes losses from the importation or production of illicit tobacco products and tax evaded on the smuggling of non-duty paid tobacco
and genuine tobacco products sourced overseas.

Source: Hansard, 17 October 2024
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** Asked by Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat, Harrogate and Knaresborough

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the national screening programme for lung cancer, if he will increase funding for smoking cessation provision in order that it can be offered as an opt-out integrated service within all lung screening appointments.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Labour, Gorton and Denton

The NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme Standard Protocol includes a mandatory referral to smoking cessation services for all current smokers invited to the programme. The Government is providing £70 million additional funding this year to support local authorities increase provision of local stop smoking services which will support improved referral pathways and integrated working.

Source: Hansard, 17 October 2024
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** Asked by Nigel Farage, Reform UK, Clacton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with local authorities on the potential impact of the proposed outdoor smoking ban on local businesses.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Labour, Gorton and Denton

The Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which stands to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation. The bill will put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom, helping to reduce 80,000 preventable deaths, reduce the burden on the National Health Service, and reduce the burden on the taxpayer. To this end, Department officials regularly engage with local authorities and the Local Government Association.

Source: Hansard, 17 October 2024
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** Asked by Shivani Raja, Conservative, Leicester East

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of prohibiting outdoor smoking and vaping on the hospitality sector.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Labour, Gorton and Denton

The Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which stands to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation. The bill will put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom, helping to reduce 80,000 preventable deaths, reduce the burden on the National Health Service, and reduce the burden on the taxpayer. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had a range of discussions with ministers from other Government departments on the contents of the bill, including with my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. Officials have also been in regular contact with counterparts across the Government during the development of the bill. More details will be set out soon.

Source Hansard, 17 October 2024
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**
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** Links of the Week
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** British Thoracic Society (BTS): Professional Development Framework for Adult Respiratory Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs)

The BTS has published a Professional Development Framework for Adult Respiratory Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) which highlights the role of ACPs working in respiratory services and seeks to outline the relevant levels of knowledge and skills required.
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** Open Letter: Public Health professionals call for levy on tobacco

In an open letter published by The BMJ, health professionals warn that unless smoking is addressed, there is no prospect of delivering on Labour’s manifesto commitment to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions. The letter acknowledges that while money is tight, funding action to reduce smoking provides a health return on investment. A ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco manufacturers “could raise £700 million a year for vital tobacco control activity in a way that would prevent companies from simply passing the cost on to consumers.” The letter has been signed by over 200 leading doctors, professional bodies, and charities. See full list of signatories here ([link removed]) .

See also: ASH - Over 200 leading health professionals call on Chancellor to invest in creating a smokefree UK ([link removed])
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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