Debates between Lord Kamall and Earl Cathcart during the 2019 Parliament

Smoking Cessation: Prescription of E-cigarettes

Debate between Lord Kamall and Earl Cathcart
Tuesday 2nd November 2021

(2 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Kamall Portrait Lord Kamall (Con)
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The 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.

Earl Cathcart Portrait Earl Cathcart (Con)
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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.

Lord Kamall Portrait Lord Kamall (Con)
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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.