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** 10 June 2025
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** UK
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** Majority back restrictions on smoking near school entrances in Northern Ireland (#1)
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** Greater Manchester backs disposable vape ban and proposes deposit return scheme (#2)
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** Labour plans targeted public spending with focus on health and defence (#3)
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** Nicotine pouches prompt calls for tighter rules amid youth uptake (#4)
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** BAT begins process to replace chair ahead of corporate governance deadline (#5)
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** Tobacco giants face headwinds as vaping sales decline and regulation tightens (#6)
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** Authorities crack down on illegal vape and cigarette trade in Birmingham (#7)
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** Parliamentary questions
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** Written Questions (#8)
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** Majority back restrictions on smoking near school entrances in Northern Ireland

A public survey has revealed strong support for prohibiting smoking at school gates across Northern Ireland.

The findings suggest widespread concern about the health impacts of second-hand smoke on children, particularly as they enter or leave school premises.

Health advocates are urging policymakers to consider legislation reflecting this public sentiment, with the goal of fostering healthier environments for young people.

Source: Hello Rayo, 9 June 2025
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** Greater Manchester backs disposable vape ban and proposes deposit return scheme

Greater Manchester's Waste and Recycling Committee has endorsed a ban on disposable vapes, citing environmental and safety concerns.

The ban, effective from 1 June 2025, aims to address the increasing number of fires caused by lithium batteries in vapes entering the waste stream. The committee also advocates for a deposit return scheme to encourage recycling and reduce waste.

This initiative aligns with broader efforts to mitigate environmental harm and promote public safety.

Source: Manchester Evening News, 9 June 2025
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** Labour plans targeted public spending with focus on health and defence

The UK government is preparing to channel new public funds primarily into the NHS and defence, leaving many other departments facing tightened budgets over the coming years.

While health and military spending are set to grow above inflation, areas such as local government, justice, and transport are expected to experience small real-term reductions. The approach reflects Labour’s intention to demonstrate fiscal responsibility while still delivering on key priorities.

Some internal calls for broader funding increases have been resisted by the Treasury, which remains cautious about borrowing and long-term sustainability.

The strategy is likely to shape the party’s economic narrative in the lead-up to the next general election.

Source: Financial Times, 9 June 2025

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** Nicotine pouches prompt calls for tighter rules amid youth uptake

The growing use of nicotine pouches in the UK has sparked regulatory concerns, particularly due to their rising popularity among young people. Often flavoured and attractively packaged, these products are currently not covered by tobacco legislation, making them easily accessible.

In response, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce age restrictions, marketing controls, and nicotine content limits.

ASH CEO, Hazel Cheeseman notes that while nicotine pouches are less harmful than smoking and probably less harmful than vaping, their widespread and indiscriminate marketing remains a serious concern. She explains that nicotine pouches are marketed in ways that don't seem focused on smoking cessation but rather on creating a lifestyle appeal.

Source: Journal of Trading Standards, 8 June 2025

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** BAT begins process to replace chair ahead of corporate governance deadline

British American Tobacco (BAT) has initiated preparations to appoint a new chair. The move comes as Luc Jobin, who has chaired the company since 2021 and sat on the board since 2017, approaches the nine-year tenure limit for independent directors under UK governance rules. The selection process is expected to conclude either later this year or in early 2026.

Source: Sky News, 9 June 2025
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** Tobacco giants face headwinds as vaping sales decline and regulation tightens

Sales of e-cigarettes are stalling in major markets such as the US and UK, prompting concern among tobacco companies that have invested heavily in smoke-free alternatives. British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International are re-evaluating their strategies as legal vaping sales drop. Regulatory hurdles, the disposable vapes ban, shifting consumer preferences, and environmental concerns have impacted growth. The downturn complicates Big Tobacco’s long-term ambitions to transition toward other nicotine products and challenges earlier expectations of dominating the market.

Source: Financial Times, 10 June 2025
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** Authorities crack down on illegal vape and cigarette trade in Birmingham

Law enforcement and trading standards officers in Birmingham have seized hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of illicit vapes and cigarettes in coordinated raids. Acting on tips from local residents, the teams targeted shops and vehicles in Erdington, uncovering illegal goods valued at around £750,000. The operation comes shortly after the ban on disposable vapes in England and Wales.

Source: BBC News, 10 June 2025
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Questions
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** Asked by Ruth Cadbury Labour, Brentford and Isleworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of vapes by children under 16 years of age in the London Borough of Hounslow.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire

The Government is taking progressive national-level action through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to protect future generations from the harms of addiction and nicotine. The Bill includes strong measures to tackle youth vaping, including a ban on the sale of all vapes and nicotine products to children under the age of 18 years old and ending the free distribution of these products to anyone.

The Bill will also ban the advertisement and sponsorship of all vapes and nicotine products and provides new powers to limit the flavours, packaging and changing where and how vapes and other nicotine products can be displayed.

The Bill also takes bold action to strengthen enforcement and tackle underage sales. This includes the introduction of new £200 fixed penalty notices to support Trading Standards to crack down on underage sales, and powers to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vape and nicotine products.

Alongside the Bill, the Government is investing over £100 million over five years to boost HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force enforcement capability. The Government is investing £10 million of new funding in Trading Standards this year to support the enforcement of illicit and underage tobacco and vape sales.

This funding is being used to boost the Trading Standards workforce by recruiting over 80 new apprentices. Hounslow has been allocated a new apprentice.

Source: Hansard, 9 June 2025

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** Asked by Ruth Cadbury Labour, Brentford and Isleworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of how many 12 to 16 year olds use vapes in (a) Hounslow (b) London.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire

NHS England publishes estimates of the prevalence of vaping in children from the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England Survey. This survey covers children in years seven to 11 in secondary school of whom the majority will be aged between 12 and 16 years old but some children aged 11 years old will also be included. Data on the use of vapes in children is not available at local authority level.

The latest figures for London are from the 2023 survey which showed that 4% of children were regular vapers, while 18% reported having ever tried vaping.

The report is available at the link, here ([link removed]) .
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** Asked by Ruth Cadbury Labour, Brentford and Isleworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the powers available to local authorities to take enforcement action against shops unlawfully selling vapes.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire

Trading Standards Officers currently have a range of enforcement tools at their disposal to enforce age of sale restrictions and take a proportionate approach to enforcement that reflects the severity of the offence committed.

When necessary, this includes prosecuting offenders which can result in courts imposing a fine of up to £2,500, and, in the case of repeat offences, applying for a restricted premises order or restricted sale order. £200 fixed penalty notices introduced by the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will complement existing sanctions and support Trading Standards to crack down on retailers selling to people underage.

To ensure that local authorities are provided with the appropriate powers to enforce measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, provisions in the Bill give Trading Standards Officers investigatory powers set out in Schedule 5 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Future regulations relating to vaping product requirements will also provide appropriate powers for enforcement authorities to carry out their duties.

We will complete a post-implementation review of the measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in due course.
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** Asked by The Lord Bishop of Norwich

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce mandatory extended producer responsibility for the tobacco industry or a ban on single-use cigarette filters to reduce environmental impact.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Labour

This Government has no current plans to introduce mandatory extended producer responsibility to the tobacco industry or ban single-use cigarette filters.

Tobacco litter remains a concern for Defra, with cigarette filters consistently scoring as the most littered item in surveys. Local authorities already have powers to punish those who litter them including through prosecution.

Defra believes the best way to tackle littering of filters is through reductions in smoking rates. We therefore continue to support all initiatives to encourage people to quit smoking or prevent them from starting smoking. Through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the Government is committed to creating a smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products across the country and breaking the cycle of addiction and disadvantage.

We will continue to monitor the available evidence on the prevalence of littered cigarette filters before considering further action.
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** Asked by Dr Neil Hudson, Conservative, Epping Forest

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of penalties for the illegal sale of vaping products on those sales.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire

Trading Standards officers currently have a range of enforcement tools at their disposal to enforce age of sale restrictions and to take a proportionate approach to enforcement that reflects the severity of the offence committed. When necessary, this includes prosecuting offenders, which can result in a court imposed fine of up to £2,500, and, in the case of repeat offences, an application for a restricted premises order or restricted sale order. £200 fixed penalty notices, introduced by the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, will complement existing sanctions and support Trading Standards to crack down on retailers selling to underage people.

We will complete a post-implementation review of the measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in due course.

The sale and supply of single use vapes was banned on 1 June 2025. If a retailer repeatedly sells single use vapes, they can be charged with an unlimited fine, or a prison sentence of up to two years. We will work with enforcement agencies to monitor the impact and effectiveness of the ban, including the impact of the penalties.
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** Asked by Dr Neil Hudson, Conservative, Epping Forest

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** To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on the environmental impact of disposable vapes.

Answered by Mary Creagh, Nature Minister, Labour, Coventry East

On 1 June the sale and supply of disposable vapes across the UK was banned, this will remove these harmful products from shelves and reduce the waste cause by their disposal. We will work closely with the Department of Health to ensure that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill continues to consider the environmental impacts of vaping.
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** Asked by Mary Glindon, Labour, Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the ban on single-use vapes coming into force on 1 June 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) smokers and (b) ex-smokers are aware of the need to switch to reusable vapes.

Answered by Ashley Dalton, Public Health and Prevention Minister, Labour, West Lancashire

The ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes protects the environment and removes products from the market that particularly appeal to children.

Adult smokers will still be able to access refillable and reusable vapes as well as other alternative methods to stop smoking. Sources of advice, including the Better Health Website, are being updated to reflect the ban to ensure smokers remain aware of reusable and refillable vapes to aid quitting.

Our national Swap to Stop scheme will continue to help adult smokers by offering a free reusable vape starter kit as part of a twelve-week programme of support.

Responsible local vape stores will also be able to direct both smokers and ex-smokers to a reusable device, and help them select one that is suitable for them.
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** Asked by Lord Rennard, Liberal Democrat

To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they will publish the model used to calculate (1) price elasticities, and (2) income elasticities, for tobacco, as referenced in Tobacco duties: forecast methodology, published by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility on 7 March.

Answered by Lord Livermore, Labour

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) publishes details of their tobacco tax receipt forecast in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) ([link removed]) publication and forecast methodology page. The OBR provides further information on their analysis on request.
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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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