Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to publicise the finding contained in the Nicotine Vaping in England: 2022 evidence update, published on 29 September, that "vaping is not risk-free, particularly for people who have never smoked"; and whether the review update found any evidence that fruit-flavoured vaping products may contribute to increased (1) usage, and (2) addiction, in young people.

The report details that vaping poses only a small fraction of the risks of smoking in the short-to-medium term. It also states that never or long-term former smokers should be discouraged from taking up vaping, unless the individual would otherwise relapse to smoking, as the degree of any long-term risks remains unclear.

The report will inform the Department’s communications and the advice given by the online only resources Better Health and Ask Frank. Several of its chapters have been or will be published in peer review journals and the authors will be undertaking webinars and conference presentations. The report notes that while fruit flavours are commonly used by adults and young people, no evidence is presented of these products being more addictive.