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** 10 February 2021
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** UK
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** Thinktank critical of NHS COVID response has links to Hancock (#1)
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** Pharmacists in England considering strike action over COVID debts (#2)
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** Scotland: NHS campaign to help smokers stub it out (#3)
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** International
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** The Republic of Ireland has the highest rate of e-cigarettes users in the EU (#4)
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** US: Maine health campaigners push for a ban on flavoured tobacco products (#5)
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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Parliamentary questions (#6)
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** UK
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**

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** Labour has demanded that Matt Hancock return donations from the chair of an influential conservative thinktank after it published a report saying there was “no reason to be grateful” for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.

The report published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) claims to debunk “myths” including that “the NHS is the star performer of the pandemic” and that it “has done the most amazing job under the most difficult of circumstances.”

Electoral Commission records show that the IEA board’s chair, Neil Record, has donated £32,000 to Hancock. In a letter to the health secretary, the Labour deputy leader, Angela Rayner, urged Hancock to pay back the donations and condemn the “disgraceful attack” on the NHS. She wrote: “As health secretary, it is your job to protect and defend our country’s greatest institution – our National Health Service – and stand up for our NHS staff who have sacrificed so much throughout the pandemic to save lives and keep us safe. It is therefore deeply concerning that our country’s health secretary is so closely linked to … an organisation which criticises our NHS and is committed to its dismantling, abolition and replacement with a privatised healthcare system.”

Rayner urged Hancock to take action “to assure NHS staff and the British people that you don’t share the view … that we should not be grateful for the NHS or thank the NHS and its staff for their work during the pandemic.”

Source: The Guardian, 9 February 2021

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** See also: Tobacco Tactics ([link removed]) - The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has a history of close collaboration with the tobacco industry.
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**
Editorial note

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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Pharmacists in England are considering strike action unless the Treasury writes off a £370 million debt from a support package awarded during the pandemic, which saw many chemists help deliver vaccines.

The National Pharmacy Association chair urged the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to intervene in the upcoming budget on 3rd March, saying the industry did not want to stage walkouts. However, many members were facing closure due to unsustainable debts.

The industry was offered £370 million in government loans last year to help meet additional costs amid the coronavirus pandemic. It now wants that debt to be waived. An industry source said that Steve Barclay, chief secretary to the Treasury, had ruled out writing off the whole debt in recent meetings with pharmacy leaders. Although some extra cash has been offered, it “falls way short”, the source said.

A September report commissioned by the National Pharmacy Association predicted that under current funding, 72% of community pharmacies would be in debt by 2024. Eight out of 10 pharmacies told a parliamentary group that the government loans had not been enough to meet the crisis’ extra costs. The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on pharmacies wrote to the government in December asking that the debt be written off against the additional costs of COVID-19.

Labour’s shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, has written to the health secretary, Matt Hancock, to help unblock the funding. In his letter, Ashworth said mounting costs had been “directly incurred in the battle against COVID-19 … The repayment of this loan threatens the future of thousands of pharmacies, coming on top of several years of reduced funding for the sector.”
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** Source: The Guardian, 10 February 2021

See also: Ernst & Young report - Impacts of current funding, policy and economic environment on independent pharmacy in England ([link removed])
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** A new campaign has been launched to encourage smokers to quit. Doctors at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) have joined forces with colleagues at NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Lothian to target smokers across the central belt of Scotland.

Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death, but the “Don’t Wait” campaign focuses on a range of free NHS services available to those who want to beat their addiction.

Geraldine Lucas, NHSGGC tobacco control lead, said: “Working in partnership with colleagues across the central belt will allow us to raise the profile of our Quit Your Way stop smoking services, which have continued to offer information, advice and support, including nicotine replacement therapy or Champix, to people who smoke throughout the pandemic. […] right now, more than ever, we want to encourage all people who smoke to give quitting a go.”

Source: The Gazette, 9 February 2021
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** International
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The Republic of Ireland has the highest rate of e-cigarette users and cannabis smokers in the European Union (EU). According to a new survey from Eurobarometer, about 17% of people in Ireland now use products containing cannabis while about 7% use e-cigarettes compared to the EU average of 2%.

Tim Hayes of the European Commission said the number of Irish people smoking cigarettes has continued to decline: “Luckily the number of people smoking is steadily declining in Ireland, and now only one in five smoke tobacco on a daily basis.”

Source: Breaking News.i.e, 9 February 2021

See also: Eurobarometer survey – Public opinion ([link removed])
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** Public health and social justice advocates are urging the Maine’s State Legislature to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products, including menthol, saying the flavourings have long been used to appeal to children, especially in minority groups.

The Flavors Hook Kids Maine campaign, which is pushing for the ban, includes more than 24 partner organizations, such as the American Cancer Society Action Network, among others.

Republican Michele Meyer said she felt compelled to sponsor legislation that could prevent children from becoming addicted to a product that will “rob them of a full and healthy life.” The disproportionate use of tobacco products, especially menthol flavoured ones, by people of colour makes the matter a justice issue and a public health and consumer protection issue, she said.

Source: Sun Journal, 8 February 2021
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** Parliamentary Activity
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**

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** Tobacco, Regulation – DHSC (Grouped questions)

1. Asked by Alex Norris Labour, Nottingham North
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the tobacco products that are under investigation for possibly breaching the prohibition on characterising menthol flavours will be taken off the market until that investigation has concluded.

2. Asked by Alex Norris Labour, Nottingham North

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of industry compliance with the Public Health England investigation into the sale of potentially illegal menthol cigarettes; and when he plans to publish the results of that investigation.

3. Asked by Alexander Stafford Conservative, Rother Valley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Public Health England’s investigation into potential breaches of the prohibition of characterising flavours in the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, when Public Health England plan for (a) testing to begin on products of interest and (b) that investigation to conclude.

Answered by Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care

The Department has asked Public Health England to conduct testing analysis of cigarettes as part of its investigation into possible breaches of the prohibition of characterising flavours in tobacco products. This work should conclude in the summer. There are currently no plans to publish the results of the investigation. We understand that industry is complying with the investigation.

Source: Hansard, 8 February 2021
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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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