As the single leading behavioural cause of preventable death across our country, responsible for around 64,000 deaths across England in 2019, reducing smoking is crucial for ensuring we live longer, healthier lives.

The Government is currently reviewing existing tobacco control policies and the findings of an independent review, led by Javed Khan, of progress towards delivering a smoke-free England.  Further information about the future of the Tobacco Control Plan will be available in due course.

The independent review made a number of recommendations, which included prohibiting smoking outside in hospitality venues; making hospital grounds smoke-free; and reducing smoking in social housing.  I understand the Government is considering the detail of the review before responding in due course.

Whilst I cannot sign up to the specific pledge and recommendations from Cancer Research UK's smoke free campaign, I fully support the Government’s commitment to ensuring the UK is smokefree by 2030 and believe that the actions mentioned above will help achieve this goal.

I believe Cancer Research UK’s smoke free campaign complements the Government’s ambition to make the UK smoke free by 2030, and I am happy to commit to championing this cause in Parliament.