Written Question·Department of Health and Social Care·UIN 119762

Smoking: Children

Tabled: 10 March 2026
Answered: 23 March 2026
Named Day

Question

Mr Peter Bedford

ConservativeMid Leicestershire

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of lowering the age of smoking and vaping to 16 year olds on the impact of 16 year olds.

Answer

Mrs Sharon Hodgson
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability, and ill health. It claims the lives of approximately 80,000 people a year in the United Kingdom and kills up to two-thirds of its long-term users.Three quarters of smokers wish they had nev...

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