Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the current WHO guidelines on the interpretation of Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control with Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Whilst the Department is not aware of any guidelines for interpreting Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), there are implementation guidelines. These guidelines were developed in 2008 through wide consultative and inter-governmental processes. Our assessment is that they provide useful guidance in supporting countries to meet their obligations under Article 5.3.The Government is fully committed to its obligations under the WHO FCTC, including commitments under Article 5.3.