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NHS leaders warned of significant financial changes
NHS England has informed health leaders of a forthcoming overhaul in financial management due to a projected £6.6bn budget shortfall. The warning comes after financial plans failed to meet expectations, with concerns over the ability to meet operational targets. The government is increasing its oversight of NHS leadership to address the crisis, which is exacerbated by staffing shortages and budget constraints. Key resignations, including the national medical director, have also added to the challenges faced by the organisation.
Source: Financial Times, 6 March 2025
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Concerns raised over hidden nicotine in ‘nicotine-free’ illicit vapes
Consumers have been warned after an investigation found that some illicit vapes labelled as nicotine-free actually contained the addictive substance. Testing of 76 products picked up in Operation Joseph, a tobacco control initiative tackling illicit and non-compliant vapes, revealed that over 13% contained between 0.06 mg/ml and 27.02 mg/ml of nicotine, with some also exceeding the limits for e-liquid capacity. Authorities continue to monitor the sale of illicit vapes, emphasising the importance of oversight and consumer awareness.
Source: The Sun, March 2025
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Two teenagers hospitalised after using illicit vape
Two 14-year-old boys from a Midlothian school required hospital treatment after using a vape which had been laced with an unidentified substance. They were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before being discharged. Authorities are investigating, and the local council has reiterated the risks associated with substance misuse. Schools across the area will reinforce these warnings and urge families to seek assistance if concerned about underage vaping.
Source: BBC Scotland, 6 March 2025
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Written Questions
Asked by Susan Murray, Liberal Democrat, Mid Durbonshire
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the packaging of vapes to provide similar safeguards to that of cigarettes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire
It is very worrying that approximately 25% of 11 to 15-year-olds have tried vaping, despite the risks of nicotine addiction. Evidence suggests that vapes appeal to children because of the brightly coloured packaging, amongst other child-friendly features. Evidence also indicates that the nicotine content descriptions on vape packaging are not consistent between packaging, preventing adults from making informed decisions on nicotine strength.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care with regulation-making powers to introduce new requirements on retail packaging, including for vaping products and nicotine products. There is a balance to be struck between reducing the appeal of vapes to non-smokers, particularly children, whilst considering the implications for adult smokers to ensure we can achieve the greatest possible impact.
It is our intention to regulate the appeal of vapes to children, whilst minimising the impact on adult smokers. We plan on consulting on the preferred options to get this balance right as soon as possible after the bill gains Royal Assent.
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Bob Blackman, Conservative, Harrow East
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of recent trends in the level of tobacco bundle purchases on the taxes received via the minimum excise duty on cigarettes.
Answered by James Murray, Exchequer Secretary, Labour, Ealing North
The Chancellor has not held any discussions with cabinet colleagues on this topic.
As with all taxes, the Government keeps the tobacco duty system under review during its Budget process.
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Asked by Jim Shannon, Democratic Unionist Party, Strangford
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of under 16's who vape.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, West Lancashire
NHS England publishes estimates of the prevalence of vaping in children from the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England Survey. The latest figures are from the 2023 survey, and showed that 5% of children aged between 11 and 15 years old were regular vapers, 4% vaped occasionally, and 25% had ever vaped. The report is available at the following link.
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Asked by Sir John Hayes, Conservative, South Holland and The Deepings
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many illegal (a) cigarettes and (b) vapes have been seized from retail outlets in England in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023 and (ii) 2024.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, West Lancashire
HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force, and Trading Standards are responsible for detaining and seizing illicit tobacco and vapes, including at ports and in-land from retailers. Information about seizures of illicit tobacco and vapes is collated in reports published by HM Revenue and Customs and National Trading Standards.
The latest figures show that 1.36 billion cigarettes, with a revenue value of £678.5 million, were seized by HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force in the United Kingdom in 2023/24, and 19.1 million cigarettes, worth £9.5 million, were seized by Trading Standards in England and Wales in 2023/24. 92.4 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco, worth £41.9 million, was seized by HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force in the UK in 2023/24, and 5.2 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco, worth over £2.3 million, was seized by Trading Standards in England and Wales in 2023/24.
1.2 million illicit vapes, worth £13.2 million, were seized inland by Trading Standards in England in 2023/24, and 1.1 million illicit vapes, worth £12.4 million, were detained at ports by Trading Standards in England, in the first half of 2024/25.
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Asked by Sir John Hayes, Conservative, South Holland and The Deepings
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many closure orders were issued to retail outlets in England for the selling of illegal cigarettes in the last three years.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, West Lancashire
Where a retailer is found to be engaged in serious criminal behaviour, local authorities can apply to the courts for a closure order, which can close the business for up to three months. The number of closure orders issued against businesses, including those in which the sale of illicit cigarettes is a factor, is not held centrally by the Department. Local authorities and National Trading Standards collate information regarding the enforcement action taken against retailers in relation to illicit tobacco.
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ASH: new resources on tobacco control
ASH have released a new resources page, titled Tobacco control: what you need to know. This page brings together key resources and guidance to support professionals working in local tobacco control. The page provides a good starting point for getting up to speed with the current landscape, the rationale for focusing on tobacco control and action to prioritise locally.
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Fresh: Smoking survivor’s press release
Ahead of No Smoking Day 2025, Fresh has released a new press statement as part of their Smoking Survivors campaign, which showcases life-changing stories from individuals impacted by smoking. In this press release, John, a former smoker from the North East of England, shares his story and urges others to quit smoking. The release also features comments from Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh and Balance, and Dr Saira Malik, a Sunderland GP and clinical lead for cardiovascular disease in the North East and Cumbria, emphasising the importance of quitting for better health.
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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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