Smoking Cessation: Prescription of E-cigarettes Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateEarl Cathcart
Main Page: Earl Cathcart (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)Department Debates - View all Earl Cathcart's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(2 years, 11 months ago)
Lords ChamberThe hope is that we will be able to move current cigarette smokers to e-cigarettes, but I am afraid that I will have to write to the noble Baroness on her specific question.
My Lords, I used to smoke over 50 cigarettes a day but, in 2014, I transferred to using e-cigarettes. I have not had a puff of tobacco since, and I find that my health and breathing are so much better now. This is surely a very good thing; it should be encouraged.
I thank my noble friend. He is indeed looking incredibly healthy and is a living advert for the path away from cigarettes to e-cigarettes. Noble Lords across the House are keen for this to happen. The MHRA has advised that it is 18 to 20 months away from approving a medicinal licence for e-cigarettes in the UK. However, I take the points of many noble Lords; I will push the MHRA, and I hope that they will too.