Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on vaping in schools.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The Government is concerned about an increase in pupils vaping, particularly the use of of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of pupils. Plans have therefore been announced to reduce youth vaping. There will be increased education and dedicated school police liaison officers to keep illegal vapes out of schools, and rules around the sale of nicotine free vapes and fines for shops selling illicit vapes will be reviewed.

Officials in the Department have engaged with officials in the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss vaping as part of health education, which includes content on drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

The Department has brought forward the review of the Relationships, Sex and Health Education statutory guidance, which commenced in March 2023.

The Department expects new draft statutory guidance to be published for consultation in the autumn, with a view to it coming into force in 2024.