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 implications of Philip Morris International’s takeover of Vectura on the implementation of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, in particular article 5.3.

The proposed transaction is primarily a commercial matter for the parties concerned although officials will continue to monitor the situation. The United Kingdom is a signatory to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and will continue to uphold our duties in protecting public health policy in accordance with the treaty.