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** 14 February 2025
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** UK
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** BAT shares slump as legal and tax challenges weigh on outlook (#1)
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** Ministers reframe spending to align with government priorities (#2)
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** Darlington smoking cessation initiative sees strong uptake (#3)
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written question (#4)
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** Links of the week
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** SCAH conference: confirmed speaker list (#5)
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** Blog: Universities urged to support new tobacco legislation through smoke-free policies (#6)
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** Blog: Shifting NHS focus to prevention requires bold financial reforms (#7)
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** ASH is hiring (#8)
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** UK
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** BAT shares slump as legal and tax challenges weigh on outlook
British American Tobacco (BAT) has announced a £6.2 billion charge linked to a long-running Canadian lawsuit, alongside warnings that tax changes in Bangladesh and Australia will affect its 2025 performance. The company, which produces brands such as Lucky Strike and Dunhill, saw its shares drop by over 9%, erasing around $6 billion from its market value. The Canadian settlement, initially agreed upon by multiple firms, now faces opposition from some parties, including Philip Morris International’s Canadian arm. Meanwhile, BAT expects tax increases in key markets to impact its tobacco business. The company forecasts just 1% revenue growth for 2025.
Source: Reuters, 13 February 2025
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** Ministers reframe spending to align with government priorities
Ahead of a crucial spending review, ministers are seeking to justify their budgets by linking existing programmes to Labour’s core policy priorities, such as economic growth, net zero, and the NHS. Departments face potential funding cuts unless they can demonstrate alignment with these objectives, prompting what officials describe as widespread “mission-washing.” Some justifications have been seen as tenuous, with departments stretching definitions to fit government goals. With limited fiscal flexibility and no major tax rises planned, the review process is expected to result in significant cuts for unprotected departments.
Source: The Guardian, 14 February 2025
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** Darlington smoking cessation initiative sees strong uptake
Darlington Council’s campaign to help smokers transition away from cigarettes has been deemed a success. At an event held outside Darlington Memorial Hospital, the Stop Smoking Hub engaged with 60 individuals, offering support and distributing 48 vapes as an alternative to smoking. The initiative aimed to encourage participants to make a lasting switch. Councillor Mathew Roche, the council’s cabinet member for health, said that the event “exceeded expectations” and that he hoped the quits would be permanent.
Source: The Northern Echo, 13 February 2025
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** Parliamentary activity
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** Written question
Asked by Greogry Campbell, Democratic Unionist Party, East Londonderry
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to fund a financial incentives scheme to help pregnant women to stop smoking during this Parliament.
Answered by Ashley Dalton, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire
Health is a devolved matter. In England, the Government is funding a broad package of measures to support current smokers to quit, including the National Smoke-free Pregnancy Incentives Scheme. The future settlement for the scheme will be confirmed in due course.
Source: Hansard, 13 February 2025
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** Links of the week
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** SCAH conference: confirmed speaker list
The Smoking Cessation and Health conference has confirmed it’s final speaker programme and agenda. You can find out more and register for the event here ([link removed]) .
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** Blog: Universities urged to support new tobacco legislation through smoke-free policies
In this blog, Senior Research Fellow with the Sheffield Addictions Research Group Dr Duncan Gillespie writes that universities have a key role to play in creating a smoke-free generation, as they serve as transitional environments for young adults. Institutions like the University of Sheffield are already working on smoke-free initiatives, conducting student-led research on smoking behaviours and proposing campus policy changes.
Gillespie suggests that a national network to help universities share best practices would be valuable. He also notes that broader discussions about restricting smoking in outdoor social spaces help to de-normalise smoking. Gillespie concludes by saying that with collaboration and planning, universities can create environments that discourage smoking and support both staff and students to quit.
Source: University of Sheffield, 11 February 2025
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** Blog: Shifting NHS focus to prevention requires bold financial reforms
In this blog, Siva Anandaciva, Director of Policy, Events and Partnerships at the King's Fund, discusses the government’s ambition to shift the focus of the health system from treatment to prevention. Achieving this requires a fundamental overhaul of NHS funding structures, including how resources are allocated, payments are designed, and financial performance is assessed. Anandaciva makes several suggestions as to how these could be achieved but acknowledges that may lead to short-term trade-offs, including potential strains on hospital services. Anandaciva concludes by saying that despite past government reluctance to impose national targets, some local healthcare systems have independently committed to increasing prevention funding, demonstrating a grassroots push towards long-term health improvements.
Source: The King’s Fund, 6 February 2025
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** ASH is hiring
ASH is hiring a full time, permanent Senior Policy Officer. You can find out more about the role here ([link removed]) .
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**
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Apply 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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