Tobacco and Vapes Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Debate between Jack Rankin and Beccy Cooper

Committee stage
Thursday 23rd January 2025 Public Bill Committees

[Dr Beccy Cooper (Worthing West) (Lab)]

From a public health point of view, I just point out to the hon. Member that we are basing this Bill on evidence and therefore we are looking at the evidence of tobacco harm, which I think we agree on. There is incontrovertible evidence; tobacco is undoubtedly harmful. People should not start smoking tobacco, and we should assist those who come forward to stop.

In relation to vaping, I go back to a previous comment I made, about the precautionary principle. There is evidence on vaping; there do appear to be some harms associated with vaping. There is not sufficient evidence right now for it to be incontrovertible, but it would be irresponsible not to adopt the precautionary principle that we use in public health.

In relation to gambling, I just urge caution—again, on the evidence. There may not be incontrovertible evidence about gambling, but there are undoubtedly health harms from gambling that we need to look at as we move forward.

[Jack Rankin]

I thank the hon. Member for her intervention.

Tobacco and Vapes Bill (Fourth sitting)

Debate between Jack Rankin and Beccy Cooper

Committee stage
Thursday 9th January 2025 Public Bill Committees

[Jack Rankin]

I recognise the hon. Lady’s passionate belief in equality, but I find that somewhat paternalistic and somewhat—I do not mean this dismissively—condescending. Poorer people have the same agency as anybody else. That is the point.

[Dr Beccy Cooper (Worthing West) (Lab)]

I thank the hon. Member for the points he is making, which add to the interest of the debate, and I have listened with interest. I declare an interest as a public health consultant, and if the hon. Member is not interested in the greater moral argument, I would encourage him to look at my discipline and the 50 years of evidence and data we have collected since Sir Richard Doll first identified the fact that lung cancer had a causality with smoking. Data and evidence build this great Government and this great country. I ask the hon. Gentleman to please not accept the moralistic or paternalistic arguments: this is a solid Bill, built on 50 years of evidence.

[Jack Rankin]

I might make some headway, because I think that was more of a slap-down than a question for me.