Parliament Matters

Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care if he will ensure that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill does not lead to restrictions and bans on smoking in outside areas of hospitality businesses. She also asked if he will ensure that outdoor hospitality areas remain outside the scope of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

Speaking on his behalf, Ashley Dalton, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, replied: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will put us on track towards a smoke-free UK, was introduced to Parliament on 5 November 2024. On 26 March 2025, MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of advancing the Bill to the next Parliamentary stage and it has now entered the House of Lords.

“The Bill allows us to expand current indoor smoking restrictions to outdoor public places and workplaces. However, we have been very clear that in England, we intend to consult on extending smoke-free places to outside schools, children’s playgrounds and hospitals but not outdoor hospitality settings or wider open spaces like beaches. Private outdoor spaces are out of scope of the powers in the Bill.

“We do not intend to extend these powers further than this at this time and recognise that now would not be the right time to consult on making outdoor hospitality settings smoke-free in England.”

Given the negative aspects of the Bill, this is positive news. Phew.

Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, asked the Secretary of State whether the Department has provided guidance on the application of byelaws which would ban vaping in parks, on a highway, within places covered by a licensed premises’ pavement licence, and in a pub garden.

Jim McMahon, Minister of State for Local Government, told Hollinrake: “Government provides guidance on the byelaw making process for local authorities. The department has not provided specific guidance on the application of byelaws which would ban smoking and vaping in parks, on a highway, within the curtilage of a licensed premises’ pavement licence and in a pub garden.”

Oh, well Dalton’s news was good while it lasted. 

So, the government isn’t going to ban vaping in outdoor spaces, but it isn’t telling local authorities not to.

The Bishop of St Albans, the Convenor of the Lords Spiritual, asked the government what steps are being taken to tackle the rise in illegal high-strength nicotine pouches. He also wanted to know what plans there are to restrict pouch flavours and packaging designs.

On behalf of the government, Baroness Merron informed him: “Data from August 2024 by ASH suggests that 1.2% of children aged between 11 and 18 years old currently use nicotine pouches. The Government is concerned that these products, just like vapes, are being branded and marketed to appeal to children through colourful packaging and flavours. There is currently no set nicotine limit for nicotine pouches, and nicotine strengths vary from two milligrams per pouch to as high as 150 milligrams per pouch.”

Has anyone seen an example of pouch packaging clearly targeting children? Nope, us neither.

Continuing, Merron said: “That is why, through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, we are banning the advertisement and sponsorship of these products, introducing age of sale restrictions to people aged 18 years old for nicotine pouches, banning free samples, and providing powers to restrict packaging, flavours, and point of sale displays.

“These powers will also allow the Government to limit the amount of nicotine in a pouch, as well as ban any other ingredient that might be harmful in a pouch. We will therefore be able to regulate, subject to consultation, to ensure that nicotine pouches are limited to an appropriate strength.”

Clarification there that the government is bent on banning eliquid/vape and pouch flavours. Another great week in Parliament!

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.