ASH Scotland disappointed at UK-wide legislation setback but hopeful it’ll get back on track

ASH Scotland has greeted the news that the UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill will not be fast-tracked during Westminster’s ‘wash-up’ period before parliament dissolves for the upcoming General Election on 4 July 2024 with disappointment but also with hope that it could soon be back on track.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Although we are very disappointed that the UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill will not proceed during the remainder of this parliamentary term at Westminster, we hope that cross party MPs will ensure its swift progress to reach the statute book following the General Election.

“Tobacco continues to be the biggest preventable killer of people in Scotland, causing more than 8,000 deaths each year, so we will be urging those who form the UK Government as well as the Scottish Government to use all available powers to eradicate the damage that profit-centred multi-national tobacco corporations are inflicting on people’s lives and enable Scotland to attain a tobacco-free generation by the target date of 2034.

“With the UK-wide legislation currently stalled, we urge the Scottish Government to introduce its proposed regulations to tighten rules on the advertising and promotions of recreational vaping products immediately upon commencement of the 2024/25 parliamentary term at Holyrood. Those regulations, which are enabled by existing Scottish legislation passed in back in 2016 and were consulted on in 2022, are urgently needed to help restrict the exponential rise in vaping amongst children.”