London councilors are demanding that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care release the long-delayed Tobacco Control Plan (TCP).
The issue of smoking and health has once again been addressed by the parliamentary group of the entire party and the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) under the Conservative Party chairman. At the same time, the newly appointed Minister for Primary Care and Public Health, Neil O'Brien, has been working to answer questions in the House of Commons.
London councillors have written to new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steven Barclay, demanding the long-overdue tobacco control plan be released. They argue that if the government is to achieve its 2030 smoke-free goal and London is to control tobacco, a tobacco control plan is urgently needed.
Lawmakers believe that imposing taxes on tobacco companies and raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21 is the only way to protect young people and combat the nearly one million smokers in the capital.
According to Jim Dickson of Lambeth, "tobacco products have had a significant impact on the poorest communities within our district. We hope that the government will refocus on its smoke-free ambitions and immediately release a tobacco control plan, taking into account the recommendations proposed by Khan.
We also hope to see tobacco companies taxed to fund smoking cessation programs and prevent children in London from starting to smoke. We are also calling for discussions about raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21 in order to protect young people from a lifelong addiction to smoking.
Conservative MP Bob Blackman supported this initiative. As the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health, he calls for a significant reform of tobacco laws. "I will urge the government to publish a tobacco control plan to achieve the smoking-free ambition by 2030 without delay. I will also push the government to listen to retailers’ opinions who want stricter regulations as they believe it will benefit businesses rather than loosen regulations," he said.
Hazel Cheeseman, the Deputy CEO of ASH, commented that the government has commissioned a report to identify the necessary conditions to achieve its smoke-free England goal by 2030. In the June report, the government was urged to take action now. Achieving a smoke-free England by 2030 will protect the NHS, improve the health of London’s most deprived populations, and boost economic prosperity. Funds can be raised through levies on industries that profit from people’s addictions. Why not do so?
Deborah Arnott, CEO of ASH, emphasized the need for the government to strengthen regulations in order to support smokers in quitting and prevent young people from taking up smoking in order to achieve a smoke-free future by 2030.
Labour MP Peter Dowd questioned the new Health and Social Care Secretary on their evaluation of progress towards the government's smoke-free target in the House of Commons, and whether they intend to uphold these goals.
Neil O'Brien responded by stating that they are on track to meet or exceed their goals for reducing teen and adult smoking, including decreasing the number of 15-year-old regular smokers from 8% to 3% or less. The latest available data shows smoking rates in the population at 13.5%. No decisions have been made yet regarding maintaining these targets.
Bootle MP then asked the minister if the department has discussed what measures can be taken to encourage adult smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives.
Neil O'Brien stated that since 2014, they have provided evidence-based information and guidance on e-cigarettes for clinical practitioners and healthcare professionals. This includes guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, online training and printed advice, blogs, videos, and the upcoming publication in September 2022 of "Nicotine E-Cigarettes in England: 2022 Evidence Update and Key Findings.
Labour MPs Andrew Gwynne, of Denton and Reddish, have questioned the Secretary of State as to whether he will commit to releasing a smoking cessation strategy.
O'Brien, speaking on behalf of the organization, responded by stating, "We are currently considering the proposed advertising campaign to be released in June. No decisions have been made regarding the publication of a new tobacco control plan.
Labour MPs from Liverpool and Walton, including Dan Carden, are demanding to know when the department in charge will publish its tobacco control plan.
The Minister of Primary Healthcare and Public Health reiterated that "We are currently considering the recommendations made in the Khan Review: Making Smoking a Thing of the Past, which is due to be published in June. Further information will be provided at the appropriate time.
In other news, Rishi Sunak has hired health advisor Bill Morgan. Morgan previously worked for former Health Minister Andrew Lansley from 2010 to 2012 and served as SPAD to then-Health Secretary Steve Barclay over the summer. He came into office with ambitious plans to improve healthcare in New Zealand, including having all the country's top leaders work out of the health and social care department's offices in an effort to solve all problems.
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