Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning independent specialist bodies to undertake replication studies of manufacturer-supplied data relating to the harm reduction potential of heat-not-burn tobacco products.

Public Health England (PHE) published its most recent evidence review on e-cigarettes and novel tobacco products on 6 February this year. It contains a chapter dedicated to heat not burn tobacco products, including suggestions for further research. PHE will publish further such evidence reviews on an annual basis.

Heat not burn products continue to be regulated as tobacco products and their use and public awareness in the United Kingdom is low. The Department will review and consider where there are gaps in evidence for further independent research, and continues to collaborate and share knowledge both in the UK and internationally to help develop the research base and understanding of these products.