Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government plans to introduce legislative proposals to ratify the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Illicit Trade Protocol.

A Command Paper setting out the UK’s plans to ratify the World Health Organisation Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products will be laid before Parliament once legislation to implement the Protocol has been approved by Parliament.

While the UK already has many of the Protocol’s requirements in place, the requirement to license tobacco manufacturing machinery has not yet been implemented. Legislation to accomplish this was included in Autumn Finance Bill, which received Royal Assent on 16 November 2017. A technical consultation on draft regulations required to implement the licensing scheme closed on 5 December. Final regulations are being prepared and are expected to be laid before Parliament in the New Year.