Member

I appreciate the intentions of the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Helen Morgan) to ensure local authorities have funding to address local public health priorities. It would be inappropriate, however, for local authorities to retain the £2,500 fixed penalty notice for licensing offences as set out in amendments 1 and 2, as that could distort the enforcement priorities of local authorities and encourage revenue generation. Councils are already provided with a ringfenced budget for public health and in 2025-26 we are increasing the public health grant to £3.858 billion. We have extended the swap to stop scheme for the coming year, including free vape kits for smokers to use as a quit aid. I can also confirm today that the national smokefree pregnancy incentive scheme will continue into the coming year.