Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Shannon Excerpts
Tuesday 24th July 2018

(5 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Brine Portrait Steve Brine
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My hon. Friend makes a good point, which he made in last week’s debate. Public Health England and NHS England will continue to work with local areas in our constituencies to promote evidence-based ways of identifying and supporting pregnant smokers to quit. The overall ambitions in the tobacco control plan, which I published a year ago last week, will touch the general population, which of course includes the partners of pregnant women.

Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
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Has the Department carried out investigations into the effects of vaping during pregnancy? If so, what are the results?

Steve Brine Portrait Steve Brine
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Vaping and e-cigarettes were part of the Stoptober campaign that we ran last October through Public Health England. I am often criticised for not promoting vaping enough, and I am sometimes criticised for promoting it too much, which possibly gives me a steer. The advice is clear that the best thing to do, whether someone is pregnant or otherwise, is not to smoke.