Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have undertaken into the correlation between reductions in Public Health England's anti-smoking budget and the number of smokers in England; and what are their projections for the future costs to the NHS of treating smoking-related illnesses as a result of any such reductions.

The Department has not conducted any such research and has therefore made no projections on future costs. Public Health England’s Stoptober campaigns have continued to achieve positive anti-smoking outcomes. For example, in 2018 19% of smokers reported making a Stoptober-related quit attempt in comparison to 16% in 2017. Adult smoking rates in England are at their lowest level since records began, currently at 14.4%.

We remain determined to achieve our 2019 Green Paper ambition of a smoke-free society by 2030. Prevention remains at the heart of the NHS Long Term Plan, with clear commitments for smoking cessation services in secondary care, and we continue to fund stop smoking services provided by local authorities.