Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to include the vaping industry in the annual Stoptober campaign; and if he will make a statement.

Public Health England (PHE) is directed under the Tobacco Control Plan for England to include within quit smoking campaigns messages about the relative safety of e-cigarettes and to continue to provide smokers and the public with clear, evidence based and accurate information on the relative harm of nicotine, e-cigarettes, other nicotine delivery systems and smoked tobacco, to enable informed decision-making.

PHE has worked with the Independent British Vape Trade Association and its members to reassure smokers about the relative safety of e-cigarettes and to encourage smokers to switch.