Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 90224, on Electronic Cigarettes: Retail Trade, whether the policy intent is that the licensing scheme controls on location and density would apply to (a) new promises and (b) existing premises.

Our call for evidence, which closed in December 2025, invited feedback on whether licence applications for existing businesses should be treated differently to those for new businesses established after the implementation of the scheme, and whether factors such as the location and density of retailers should have a role when granting licences.

We are carefully considering the responses to the call for evidence and will launch a subsequent consultation on our policy proposals before bringing forward secondary legislation.

The purpose of the licensing scheme is to support law-abiding retailers, while tackling those who break the law and pose a risk to public health. We want to ensure we are taking a proportionate approach, particularly to the many existing businesses who currently operate fairly and responsibly.