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** 21 July 2026
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** UK
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** Yvette Cooper takes over health and social care brief (#1)
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** Keep Britain Tidy chief leaves Defra role after lobbying row (#2)
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** Illegal vape seizures exceed 1.3 million following disposable ban (#3)
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** International
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** Opinion: Tobacco donation revives concerns over corporate influence in the US (#4)
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Questions (#5)
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** UK
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** Yvette Cooper takes over health and social care brief

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Yvette Cooper as secretary of state for health and social care, making the appointment one of the most senior and experienced choices for the role in recent years. The position has seen frequent turnover, with nine office holders and 50 health ministers serving over the past decade.

Cooper brings almost three decades of parliamentary experience, having previously held senior cabinet posts including chief secretary to the Treasury, work and pensions secretary, home secretary and foreign secretary. Earlier in her political career, Cooper also served as a junior health minister, overseeing the introduction of the Sure Start programme. Following the appointment, Cooper said priorities would include improving maternity care and progressing long-awaited reforms to adult social care.

Responding to the announcement, Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King's Fund, said the appointment came with a clear expectation from Prime Minister Andy Burnham to address longstanding problems in social care. Sarah Woolnough said rapid progress would be needed to deliver reforms aimed at reducing pressure on NHS services.

Source: Health Service Journal, 20 July 2026

See also: National Health Executive - Yvette Cooper appointed Health Secretary ([link removed])
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** Keep Britain Tidy chief leaves Defra role after lobbying row

Chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy Allison Ogden-Newton resigned as a non-executive director at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) in May following scrutiny over efforts to secure government backing for a cigarette litter campaign funded by tobacco manufacturers. The tobacco industry has directed millions in funding to Keep Britain Tidy through CleanStreets Community Interest Company. Action on Smoking and Health have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in Keep Britain Tidy’s funding, which risks putting local authorities in breach of their legal duty to protect policy from tobacco industry influence.

Defra has been working with the Department of Health and Social Care to explore the issue of tobacco funding, including “supporting local authorities to consider their obligations under article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation framework convention on tobacco control.”

Environment Minister Mary Creagh wrote to Ogden-Newton in October stating that she was unable to support the Keep Britain Tidy campaign due to its tobacco industry funding.

CleanStreets has rejected suggestions that the funding affected Keep Britain Tidy’s policies or campaigns.

Source: The Times, 20 July 2026

See also: Action on Smoking and Health - keep britain tidys income tripled after receiving tobacco industry money ([link removed]) | Briefing note engagement with keep britain tidy ([link removed])
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** Illegal vape seizures exceed 1.3 million following disposable ban

Freedom of Information data analysed by nicotine pouch manufacturer Northerner found that more than 1.3 million banned vaping devices have been seized across the UK since the disposable vape ban came into force in June 2025. Dr Marina Murphy, Senior Director of External Affairs UK and Scientific Affairs at Northerner, said the findings suggest that tighter regulation without effective enforcement can drive illegal trade. Dr Murphy called for stronger licensing controls, including a model similar to the Netherlands' Bibob system to prevent businesses with suspected criminal links from entering the market.

Source: Talking Retail, 20 July 2026

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
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** International
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** Opinion: Tobacco donation revives concerns over corporate influence in the US

Ellen Hahn, professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing argues that a financial contribution from Altria to the University of Kentucky reflects a long-established pattern of tobacco companies using charitable and academic partnerships to improve reputation and influence public opinion. The article reaffirms that internal industry records and previous research have documented efforts to shape scientific debate, challenge unfavourable evidence and cultivate support through community organisations and sponsorships.

Professor Hahn says international measures have sought to limit such influence and argues the United States should adopt stronger protections. The author questions the purpose of Altria’s funding for a tobacco sustainability professorship, noting Kentucky’s agricultural economy has become far less dependent on tobacco. She argues that universities should introduce stronger safeguards around funding from industries linked to significant health harms, including greater transparency over potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Kentucky Lantern, 20 July 2026
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written Questions

Asked by Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight East, Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the speech by Baroness Merron on 3 March 2026 on the proposed retail licensing scheme for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 1169 to 1171, when he plans to consult on that scheme; and what assessment his Department has made of the implications for the enforcement of restrictions on the packaging, appearance and retail display of vaping and nicotine products.

Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care), Washington and Gateshead South, Labour

On 10 July, we launched a United Kingdom-wide consultation on new proposals to restrict tobacco, vape, and nicotine product packaging, flavour descriptors, device appearance, and changing where and how vapes and nicotine products are displayed in shops. Enforcement authorities will be able to take proportionate enforcement action against non-compliance with future regulations made under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026.

A future retail licensing scheme for tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products will strengthen enforcement and support law-abiding retailers, while tackling those who break the law. Those found to be in breach of a condition of their licence, or other statutory requirements, could face potential licence revocation. Whilst the specific grounds on which a licence may be granted, suspended, revoked, or varied will be subject to consultation, we want to ensure retailers are operating responsibly and in line with legal requirements.

We intend to consult on our proposals for a retail licensing scheme for tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products in 2027.
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** Asked by Mr Lee Dillon, Newbury, Liberal Democrat

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the volume of preventable deaths in the UK due to respiratory diseases; and what steps he plans to take to address this.

Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care), Washington and Gateshead South, Labour

Data held for England shows that in 2024 there were 9,609 deaths in people aged under 75 years old where the death was due to respiratory disease and considered preventable. This data is available at the following link:

[link removed]

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of respiratory disease and respiratory death. The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Act will help deliver our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom.

The Government is also improving access to earlier diagnosis of respiratory disease through community diagnostic centres, helping more people to access respiratory testing closer to home.
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** Asked by Dr Peter Prinsley, Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve health outcomes for people living with COPD

Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care), Washington and Gateshead South, Labour

To enable faster diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and earlier access to treatment, access to spirometry tests in community diagnostic centres is growing and will continue to do so as more sites come online.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a key intervention to improve the health of people with COPD. NHS England has published commissioning standards for pulmonary rehabilitation and COPD, setting out the benchmarks for high-quality services. This includes reducing health inequalities and ensuring equitable access.

In addition, smoking is the number one preventable cause of COPD. The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Act will help deliver our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom.
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** Asked by Andrew Rosindell, Romford, Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2026 to Question 9319, if he will ensure that guidance on the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 is published with sufficient time for retailers to understand and prepare for their obligations; and what engagement his Department has had with retailers on this matter.

Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care), Washington and Gateshead South, Labour

We plan to publish guidance on the Tobacco and Vapes Act shortly which will give significant time for retailers to understand and prepare for their obligations.

The Department has been engaging with representative bodies, including the Association of Convenience Stores and the British Retail Consortium, and will continue to engage with them on this matter.
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** Asked by Ms Julie Minns, Carlisle, Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the (a) National Cyber Security Centre and (b) National Security Unit for Procurement have provided advice to (i) Ministers and (ii) officials on risks associated with the use of Chinese-manufactured Cellular Internet of Things modules in consumer products, including internet-connected vaping devices.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology), Vale of Glamorgan, Labour

The UK Government takes an actor-agnostic approach to supply chain resilience, focusing on the characteristics and behaviours of technologies and suppliers rather than their country of origin. This ensures that our regulatory frameworks remain objective, proportionate, and resilient to evolving threats.

Ministers receive technical advice from National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on a wide range of cyber threats, including on IoT products. Their assessment is that a compromised cellular internet of things module would not, by itself, enable an end-to-end attack. From a cyber security perspective, risk is managed through the broader set of controls supporting monitoring, resilience and recovery across the system. Advice on managing the security of cellular internet of things modules technology is provided to industry and government by the NCSC.
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** Asked by Ms Julie Minns, Carlisle, Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) potential impact of the use of Cellular Internet of Things modules in consumer products, including internet-connected vaping devices, on national security and (b) risk of interception, unauthorised access and transfer of data transmitted by such devices.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology), Vale of Glamorgan, Labour

Consumer connected devices fall within scope of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 and must comply with the requirements of that Act and its underlying Regulations. This includes consumer devices that use cellular internet of things modules and the use of internet-connected vaping devices.

Consumer connected devices, by their nature as consumer goods, would not typically pose a national security threat. Our assessment is that a compromised cellular internet of things module would not, by itself, enable an end-to-end attack. From a cyber security perspective, risk is managed through the broader set of controls supporting monitoring, resilience and recovery across the system. Advice on managing the security of cellular internet of things modules technology is provided to industry and government by the National Cyber Security Centre.
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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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