Maggie Throup, Member of Parliament, for Erewash, has welcomed the announcement that the Government will seek views on adding pack inserts into cigarette packets to encourage more smokers to quit.
Under proposals, positive messages encouraging people to quit smoking will be placed inside packaging of cigarettes. The messages will set out the health benefits of quitting - for example, improvements to breathing within a matter of days and a 50 per cent reduction in the risk of a heart attack within a year. The recently launched consultation will seek views on the introduction and design of pack inserts.
Throughout her time in Parliament and as a Health Minister, Maggie has called upon the Government to take greater action to tackle smoking, as doing so would save lives and help the UK become Smokefree by 2030.
Maggie commented:
“Smoking remains the single leading preventable cause of illness and mortality in the UK. Smoking contributes to nearly four per cent of all hospital admissions each year and it costs the taxpayers an estimated £21 billion every year, including over £2 billion in costs to the NHS.
“It is great news that the Government will seek views on adding pack inserts into cigarette packets. This is certainly a step in the right direction if we are serious about meeting our Smokefree 2030 target.
“I represent a constituency in which 16.6 per cent of people still smoke. If implemented, I have no doubt that this measure will encourage smokers in Erewash to quit. I would encourage anyone in Erewash who has been impacted by smoking to take part in this consultation.
“Despite this positive news, if we are determined to meet our Smokefree 2030 target, the Government needs to rapidly implement the recommendations of the Khan Review in full.
“In particular, I would like to see the Government raise the age of sale of tobacco by one year, every year. This may seem like a drastic measure, but it will help create a smokefree generation. Implementing the Khan review in full will save lives and help us meet our 2030 smokefree target.”
The consultation was launched on 14 August 2023 and runs until 10 October 2023. You can have your say on the proposals by clicking here.
