Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to update the guidance on Use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces, published by Public Health England in July 2016; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of further restrictions on vaping in public spaces.

The Government is concerned about the worrying rise in vaping among children, and there are legitimate concerns about the unknown long-term harms from vaping. Whilst the evidence base on second-hand vaping is still developing, and is less strong than smoking, the degree of harm is unlikely to be 0%. There are no current plans to update the guidance on the use of e-cigarettes in public places and workplaces, published by Public Health England in July 2015.

However, the Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which will reduce the appeal, access, and availability of vapes to children, including by banning vape advertising and branding. We will set out more details very soon.