Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what data they collect on the annual consumption of handmade cigars.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Currently there is no agreed definition of what constitutes a handmade cigar, therefore there is no Government data collected on their annual consumption.

However, there is data on cigar usage from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project which is produced every two years. In 2024 in England, of adults aged 18 years old or older who currently smoke or quit in the past two years or who currently use vapes, heated tobacco produces, and/or oral nicotine products, 5.1% reported past 30-day use of cigars.

Additionally, HM Revenue and Customs publishes data on clearances of tobacco products which relates to the amount of tobacco products cleared onto the United Kingdom’s market for sale. This data is published every month.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for a national campaign to ensure men at increased risk of prostate cancer are aware of this risk and of their right to request a free prostate-specific antigen test.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 28 November, the UK National Screening Committee opened a 12-week public consultation on a draft recommendation on screening for prostate cancer. We anticipate a final recommendation in early 2026. After which, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, and what next steps are needed, including whether a public health campaign would be appropriate.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what response they plan to provide to the comments submitted by EU member states to the Technical Regulation Information System notification detail on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, notification number 2025/7022/XI.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government intends to respond to the European Commission by the 18 February, in line with requirements under the Technical Regulatory Information System (TRIS) procedure. This exchange of opinions and responses is a standard part of the TRIS procedure which is not an approval process. The Government’s position remains that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will apply in Northern Ireland and is consistent with both our domestic and international obligations.