Member

We have heard much about Australia. It was suggested that the illicit market going through the roof and the lawlessness that goes with it is because of a change to the age of sale, but, as the noble Lord, Lord Stevens, rightly said, Australia has not changed its age of sale since 1998. I can assure the noble Lords, Lord Blencathra and Lord Naseby, that tackling the illicit market remains a priority. That is why I am pleased to confirm again that we will continue to invest up to £10 million of new funding in trading standards annually until 2028-29 to tackle the illicit and underage sales of tobacco and vapes, and to boost the trading standards workforce.