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** 18 November 2020
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** UK
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** Mental Health Matters: The desperate need for a major settlement (#1)
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** Northern Ireland: Border Force seize £700k worth of illicit tobacco in Belfast (#2)
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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Parliamentary questions (#3)
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** Upcoming event
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** ENSP-ECTC Illicit Tobacco Trade Webinar (#4)
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** UK
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**
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** COVID-19 will have long and short-term impacts on mental health, both in society and the NHS. Last month, an analysis commissioned by Mersey Care Foundation Trust suggested it will see a 30% increase in referrals to its mental health services because of the pandemic.
A new analysis by the same researchers at the Strategy Unit (part of Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit) shows similar predictions for the whole of England over the next three years. It predicts the new demands could create an additional £3.5bn in costs for trusts between 2021-22 and 2023-24.
The bulk of this increase in demand, according to the analysis, will be experienced in 2021-22. The figures are likely to be underestimated, as the report has made clear the analysis does not account for suppressed demand during the first wave. This suppressed demand will inevitably have a knock-on impact, particularly in those services for people with serious mental illness.
A recent report by charity Mind revealed the number of people presenting in crisis to urgent and emergency services in June and July was the highest ever recorded. While activity might have been suppressed, the money will not have been saved during the spring, as commissioners and providers will still have had the same fixed costs.
According to the analysis, the costs of “catching up” on any missed and delayed referrals could be in the region of £1bn this year. If this proves correct, the mental health sector could be in a terrible position over the next three years, even with the increased funding promised as part of the long-term plan.
Source: HSJ 17 November 2020
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** Editorial note
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** At this time of uncertainty articles are being included in Daily News if they cover issues likely to have an impact on tobacco control or smoking cessation even if they are not specifically mentioned.
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Read Article ([link removed])
**
Border Force has seized more than two tonnes of illicit tobacco in Belfast. The tobacco is estimated to be worth £700,000 in unpaid duty.
The tobacco was detected within a shipping container which arrived at Belfast Docks from the Netherlands on Wednesday 11 November. Border Force Officers searched the shipment, which was labelled as air filters, and found the tobacco on nine pallets which weighed a total of 2.34 tonnes.
The operation was conducted under the umbrella of the Northern Ireland Organised Crime Task Force, which includes Border Force, Her Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Police Service of Northern Ireland and other partners. No arrests have been made, but HMRC is investigating further.
Source: Belfast Telegraph, 17 November 2020
See also: Border Force - Border Force in Northern Ireland seize more than 2 tonnes of black market tobacco ([link removed] )
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Read Article ([link removed])
** Parliamentary Activity
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**
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** Tobacco: Packaging and regulation – DHSC (Grouped questions)
Asked by Alex Norris Labour, Nottingham North
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timeframe is for his Department to undertake a review of the tobacco and related product regulations after the transition period; and whether (a) tobacco free nicotine pouches and (b) other novel nicotine products are planned to be covered by that review.
Asked by Alex Norris Labour, Nottingham North
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to ensure that UK regulations for tobacco and related products are not weaker than the EU Tobacco Products Directive.
Answered by Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care
Our commitment to tough tobacco control will continue post 1 January 2021, and we laid the Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 on the 28 September 2020 to reaffirm that commitment.
Post-transition period, Great Britain will no longer have to comply with the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive and there will be opportunity to consider, in the future, regulatory changes that help people quit smoking and address the harms from tobacco. Any changes to do so will be based on robust evidence and in the interests of public health.
The Department will be carrying out a post implementation review of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 and Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products by 20 May 2021 to see if the regulations have both met their objectives. Part of this review process will involve a public consultation to start before the end of the year for people to submit their views and evidence.
Source: Hansard, 17 November 2020
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Read Transcript ([link removed] )
** Upcoming event
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**
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** The European Network for Smoking and Prevention (ENSP) and the European Conference on Tobacco Control (ECTC) is hosting a webinar on Illicit Tobacco Trade.
The webinar will take place on the 19th of November from 13:00 to 14:30 Central European Time (CET).
Registrations are open until 18 November 2020, 20:00 (CET). To register for the event, please see here: [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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