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Minister pledges focus on rare and less survivable cancers
A government minister has committed to “shift the dial” on rare and less survivable cancers in the government’s national cancer plan, following emotional appeals from MPs who have lost loved ones to the disease. The plan, set for release later this year, will focus on improving diagnosis, treatment, and research.
Labour MP Josh Fenton-Glynn shared a heartfelt tribute to his brother, who recently died from a rare cancer, urging greater investment in research. Health Minister Andrew Gwynne, who has also lost both parents to cancer, assured MPs that tackling these conditions would be a key priority.
The initiative will involve input from experts, patients, and medical professionals, with the aim of transforming cancer care and improving patient outcomes. The debate highlighted the personal impact of cancer on parliamentarians and reinforced calls for more targeted action against rarer forms of the disease.
Source: The Independent, 4 February 2025
See also: Department for Health and Social Care – Shaping the national cancer plan consultation | Hansard – National Cancer Plan debate
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McDonald’s accused of using legal tactics to push new outlets
An investigation published by the BMJ has revealed that McDonald’s has successfully challenged local councils' refusals to open new outlets by arguing that it promotes healthy lifestyles, provides nutritious options, and supports community initiatives. Public health experts claim the company employs aggressive legal strategies to overturn planning decisions, often threatening councils with legal costs if they reject applications.
Since 2020, McDonald’s has won the majority of its planning appeals, allowing it to open new branches, including near schools and in areas with existing public health concerns. The company has cited its menu options, play areas, and sponsorship of children's sports as evidence of its commitment to well-being.
Health campaigners argue that these claims are misleading and accuse the fast-food giant of undermining local efforts to combat obesity, particularly in disadvantaged areas. A government spokesperson has said that the government is strengthening councils’ powers to limit fast-food outlets near schools as well as taking further measures to crack down on junk food advertising in response to concerns over rising obesity rates and diet-related illnesses.
Source: The Guardian, 5 February 2025
See also: BMJ - McDonald’s triumphs over councils’ rejections of new branches—by claiming it promotes “healthier lifestyles” | ASH – Killer Tactics: How tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food and drink industries hold back public health progress
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Cutting tobacco, alcohol and pollution could prevent millions of cancer cases
A recent study suggests that nearly four million cancer cases in the EU could be prevented by 2050 if targets for reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption, improving diets, and tackling air pollution are met. The European Commission and OECD report highlights that almost three million cases could be avoided through tobacco and alcohol reduction alone, with an additional one million preventable through measures addressing obesity and air quality.
While cancer mortality has declined across most EU countries over the past decade, overall prevalence has risen due to improved early detection and treatment. Tobacco remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, accounting for 20% of cases in 2021, despite smoking rates declining. Alcohol consumption also contributes significantly, with prevention efforts varying between member states.
The EU’s Beating Cancer Plan aims for a tobacco-free generation by 2040, but delays in implementing key measures have raised concerns. Despite preventive healthcare accounting for 6.1% of total health spending, much of this is allocated to vaccination and protective measures rather than broad public health initiatives.
Source: EU news, 4 February 2025
See also: European Commission – Country Cancer Profiles 2025
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Written questions
Asked by Sammy Wilson, Democratic Unionist Party, East Antorim
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the impact assessment for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, published on 5 November 2024, whether the specified cost of retailer staff training (a) is a one-off cost and (b) reflects ongoing costs in relation to planned secondary legislation relating to that Bill.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, Gorton and Denton
The estimated familiarisation and staff training costs included in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill impact assessment are assumed to be one-off costs, and individual estimates are provided for each specific policy.
The bill will gradually end the sale of tobacco products across the country, so an individual born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be legally sold these products, including through proxy purchasing. Although it will mean the legal age of sale effectively increases by one year each year, the regulations will not change every year. This means it will be a one-off cost for retailers in terms of training staff.
Some indicative estimates for staff training are included for secondary legislation. This, however, will be subject to consultation and, where proportionate, further work will be completed to assess the costs and benefits of these measures.
We will continue to work closely with retailers to support them in implementing the smoke-free generation policy in the future.
Source: Hansard, 5 February 2025
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Asked by Sammy Wilson, Democratic Unionist Party, East Antorim
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative estimate of the costs of (a) implementing a one-time increase in the legal purchase age of tobacco and (b) introducing an age escalator, in the context of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, Gorton and Denton
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability, and ill health. It causes approximately 80,000 deaths a year in the United Kingdom, one in four of all cancer deaths, and kills up to two-thirds of its users.
Smoking also substantially increases the risk of many major health conditions throughout people’s lives, such as strokes, diabetes, heart disease, stillbirth, dementia, and asthma. Three quarters of smokers wish they had never started smoking but are unable to stop due to the addictive nature of tobacco.
It is estimated that smoking costs the country £21.8 billion a year in England. This includes an annual £18.3 billion loss to productivity, through smoking related lost earnings, unemployment, and early death, as well as costs to the National Health Service and social care of over £2 billion.
On 5 November 2024, the Department published an impact assessment on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. This found that the introduction of the smoke-free generation policy, the progressive increase in the age of sale, will get smoking rates in England for 14 to 30 year olds to 0% as early as 2050. Over the next 50 years it will save tens of thousands of lives, and avoid up to 130,000 cases of cases of lung cancer, strokes, and heart disease.
The impact assessment explored a one-time age increase, but this has been discounted as it does not achieve the policy objective to prevent future generations from ever taking up smoking and getting smoking prevalence to 0% to achieve a smoke-free United Kingdom. Simply raising the age of sale to one set year will only raise the age that people start smoking, and would not break the cycle of addiction and disadvantage.
Source: Hansard, 5 February 2025
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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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