Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Lord Mott Excerpts

2nd reading
Wednesday 23rd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Mott (Con)]

My Lords, I welcome the Second Reading of this important Bill. It is right that we scrutinise it carefully, and I am pleased to be following my noble friend Lord Bethell. This is a landmark piece of legislation, introduced by the previous Conservative Government, with the ambition of delivering a smoke-free 2030.

As a father of two daughters, I care deeply about the future we are building for the next generation. Protecting children from smoking and vaping is vital, but to achieve that we must ensure that the Bill is practical, enforceable and fair to those who act responsibly. My concern is that in its current form, the Bill risks harming responsible retailers and manufacturers, while driving trade into the hands of the illicit market. Many of these retailers are already under pressure from inflation and increased costs, as highlighted very clearly by my noble friend Lord Sharpe.

I support the introduction of the retail licensing scheme. Reputable retailers have been calling for a scheme like this for years. Licensing will help distinguish responsible businesses from those that sell illegally. We know from ASH that nearly half of underage vapers buy their products from retailers, and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute says that around a third of vaping products in the UK are non-compliant. A proper licensing scheme will help enforcement and protect children, but there is no implementation date in the Bill. Without enforcement, this legislation will not succeed. Trading Standards Wales has already raised concerns about the risk of the expanding illicit market. I will support amendments to strengthen and accelerate the delivery of the retail licensing scheme. Responsible retailers must be supported, and those that break the rules must be held to account.

Another urgent issue is the rise of “mega puff”, or carousel, vape devices. These are being marketed as reusable, but in reality they are often thrown away after the coil burns out, as mentioned by other noble Lords. These devices are cheaper per puff, contain more liquid and plastic, and are proving popular with young people. Material Focus estimates that 3 million of these “big puff” devices are sold every week, and nearly half are sold to 16 to 34 year-olds. If we do not act now, this loophole will undermine the disposable vape ban coming into force in June. The Government must be empowered to remove these products and prevent future redesigns that bend the rules.

I find myself in the unique place, as mentioned earlier by my noble friend Lord Lancaster, of agreeing not only with him but with the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle. While the Bill rightly focuses on reducing the health harms of tobacco and vaping, we must also recognise the significant environmental damage caused by cigarette litter. Cigarette butts are made of a synthetic plastic. Each cigarette butt contains around two straws’ worth of plastic. Globally, around 6 trillion cigarettes are smoked each year, of which 4.5 trillion are littered. Even here in the UK, an estimated 3.9 million cigarette butts are discarded every day.

These butts are not just unsightly; they pose a real threat to wildlife, pollute waterways and are expensive for local authorities to clean up. Each plastic cigarette filter can take up to 10 years to break down into microplastics—tiny particles that now pollute every corner of our planet, from the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest parts of the ocean. Microplastics are now found in our food, our water and even the air we breathe. The scale of this problem is growing. According to the Marine Conservation Society, the amount of plastic waste found on UK beaches rose by 9.5% in 2024, compared with the previous year. As we look to shape a smoke-free generation, we must also address the long-term environmental consequences of tobacco use. I urge the Government to consider measures to reduce cigarette filter pollution as part of this legislation.

I have focused on two areas that are critical to the success of the Bill. We must support enforcement and close dangerous loopholes so that the legislation achieves what it sets out to do. Above all, we must protect our children and reduce smoking-related harm. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response and working with colleagues to ensure that the Bill delivers a truly smoke-free generation.