Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of young people who are vaping.

The Government is concerned about the rise in vaping among children - youth vaping has tripled in the last three years. Vaping is never recommended for children and carries significant risk. The active ingredient in most vapes is nicotine which, when inhaled, is a highly addictive drug. Evidence suggests that in adolescence, the brain is more sensitive to the effects of nicotine, so there could be additional risks for young people.

The Government is fully committed to bringing forward legislative proposals to tackle youth vaping as part of the Tobacco and Vapes bill which was announced in the King’s Speech on 7 November. The Bill will restrict the sale and marketing of vapes to children – and we have consulted UK-wide on regulating vape flavours, packaging and shop displays. We have also consulted on restricting the sale and supply of disposable vapes.

The Government will respond to the consultation on these policies shortly.