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** 16 February 2021
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** UK
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** East of England: Voucher scheme helps pregnant women in Hertfordshire to quit smoking (#1)
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** Wales set to introduce stricter laws on smokefree spaces (#2)
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** International
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** Republic of Ireland: €2 million worth of illegal cigarettes seized at Rosslare port (#3)
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** Indians want stringent tobacco control laws, a survey reveals (#4)
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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Parliamentary question (#5)
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** UK
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** A pilot scheme in Hertfordshire which offers pregnant women up to £300 in shopping vouchers as an incentive to give up smoking has been helping dozens try to quit. The County Council launched the £49,500 scheme in January 2020, with pregnant women who agreed to set a quit date initially receiving £50 in vouchers. If they could prove they had successfully stopped smoking after four weeks – by taking a carbon monoxide test – they would qualify for a further £50 of vouchers with £100 worth after 12 weeks and 34 weeks.
The scheme is aimed at 300 of the most vulnerable women who smoke throughout their pregnancy. Between 1 January and 31 December 2020, there were 522 referrals with 282 accepting support equating to 54% - this was a rise from 51% in 2019. The data showed that 107 pregnant women quit smoking for at least four weeks following the quit date, compared to 58 in 2019. Of the women eligible for financial incentives, 92 quit at four weeks while 67 women remained smokefree at 12 weeks.
Council health improvement manager Emily Clarke shared the data at a public health and prevention cabinet meeting. She explained that the women were offered intensive support from a trained stop smoking specialist, regular carbon monoxide testing and offered vouchers at four key points.
Source: Watford Observer, 16 February 2021
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** In two weeks, new laws will be introduced in Wales to create more smokefree spaces. The legislation, being brought in across Wales on 1st March 2021, will build on the smoking ban introduced in 2007 and mean outdoor areas including hospital grounds, school grounds, children’s playgrounds, children’s daycare and childminding settings will be smokefree. Anyone found breaking the law by smoking in one of these areas could face a £100 fine.
Wales is the first part of the UK to introduce such measures, and it is hoped making more places in Wales smokefree will reduce the chances of children and young people starting smoking in the first place. Many smokers have already been motivated to give up smoking due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is hoped this new legislation will encourage even more.
Professor Keir Lewis respiratory lead at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “I applaud the Welsh Government’s bravery in introducing this new legislation, which strengthens the ground-breaking smoking ban introduced in 2007 even further.”
Suzanne Cass, the chief executive of ASH Wales, said: “Smoking is the biggest cause of early avoidable death among adults in Wales and places an enormous burden on our NHS, costing it an estimated £302 million a year. We welcome this legislation that aims to denormalise smoking in the eyes of young people, encourage smokers to quit and protect others from the harms of second-hand smoke. Reducing smoking prevalence is an urgent public health priority and could save thousands of lives every year as well as addressing the stark health inequalities that exist across Wales.”
Source: Wales 247, 16 February 2021
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** International
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** Illicit cigarettes worth over €2 million have been seized by Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort. About 3 million cigarettes branded “L&M” were found when a search was carried out of a Polish-registered lorry and trailer, which had arrived on a ferry from Cherbourg. The search was conducted using an x-ray machine.
A man in his 30s was questioned in connection with the seizure, and investigations are ongoing. A Revenue spokesperson said: “This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal cigarettes.”
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Source: RTE, 15 Feb 2021
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** According to a recent survey, over 80% of respondents believe cigarettes and smokeless tobacco use are a severe problem in India. They support banning smoking in all public places and eliminating special smoking areas in airports, hotels, and restaurants, banning loose cigarettes and advertising tobacco products at selling points.
Another finding in the survey shows that several Indians would want further strengthening the current tobacco control law. About 88% of respondents strongly favoured bringing in more stringent controls.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature deaths globally. More than one million people are losing their lives every year due to tobacco-related diseases in India.
Source: Economic Times, 15 February 2021
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** Parliamentary Activity
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** Electronic Cigarettes: DHSC
Asked by Jim Shannon Democratic Unionist Party, Strangford
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that people using vapes don't start using cigarettes.
Answered by Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care
The Government is clear that e-cigarettes should only be used by smokers to support their route to quitting smoking.
In the current Tobacco Control Plan for England, the Government commissioned Public Health England to publish annual updates on the evidence on e-cigarettes, including on their patterns of use. Their latest report, published in March 2020, found no evidence that vaping among adults leads them to start smoking and little evidence that increases in vaping among young people leads to increases in smoking. The report is available at the following link:
[link removed] ([link removed])
Source: Hansard, 15 Feb 2021
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