Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update, published on 29 September 2022 by the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, whether he has held discussions with that Office on the steps that could be taken to encourage adult smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives.

Since 2014, we have provided evidence-based information and guidance for clinicians and healthcare professionals on vaping. This includes guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, online training and printed advice, blogs, videos and the publication of ‘Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update main findings’ in September 2022. We also recently published online information on the benefits of smokers switching to vaping, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking

The Office of Health Improvement and Disparities is based within the Department of Health and Social Care. The Department is currently considering the recommendations made in ‘The Khan review: making smoking obsolete’, including those related to vaping. This includes encouraging adult smokers to switch to vaping.