Tag: Westminster

Online giants to pay their fair share for electrical waste

Online marketplaces and vape producers to pay for recycling and cleaning up of household electrical waste

Online marketplaces and vape producers will soon be paying their fair share towards the cost of recycling waste electricals, from toasters to vapes and hair curlers, levelling the playing field for UK retailers, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh has announced.

Ensuring large online retailers pay their fair share is fairer for UK businesses who already pay to cover the costs of recycling. It comes as the government delivers on its Plan for Change, and reflects a further step in the government’s mission to boost growth.

The changes will also help fund recycling services and kick-start the country on the road to a circular economy, which is a priority for the Government. 

Before now, UK-based firms were shouldering the majority of costs around collection and processing of electronic waste and operating at a disadvantage. With 100,000 tonnes of household electricals binned every year, the changes will for the first time make sure the burden of these costs does not unduly fall on UK based retailers compared to their online rivals.

Waste electricals are difficult to recycle – and represent a huge drain on resources, when they are not collected separately. Valuable metals – such as copper – are chucked away needlessly, while electrical components and chemicals can pose a health and safety risk to the waste industry. 

In conjunction with this government’s wider actions to tackle waste and end the throwaway society, today’s announcement will help to ensure that businesses take responsibility for the huge quantities of waste that might otherwise end up being littered or fly-tipped, and support our efforts to protect the environment. 

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “Electrical equipment like vapes are being sold in the UK by producers who are failing to pay their fair share when recycling and reusing of dealing with old or broken items. 

“Today we’re ending this: creating a level playing field for all producers of electronics, to ensure fairness and fund the cost of the treatment of waste electricals.   

“As part of our Plan for Change, we are helping UK businesses compete and grow, and we continue to get more households recycling, cracking down on waste and ending the throwaway society.”

Alex Baldock, CEO at Currys, said: “We believe that if you sell something, this comes with a commitment to help keep it working, and then to recycle it responsibly when it reaches the end of its life. We continue to do everything we can to give tech a longer life, but there are many who don’t.

“We welcome the Government’s new measures to help level the playing field for responsibility for waste, making online marketplaces do their part. Low value, low quality and unsustainable tech is piling up in landfills, and it’s good to see Government doing something to tackle that.

“We’ll continue to work with them to help ensure our industry performs its important role in helping protect our planet and be a force for good.

Scott Butler, Executive Director at Material Focus, said: “We welcome the Government’s vital new reforms to the waste electrical regulations.  FastTech items such as vapes, have swamped the UK market, with half a billion items bought in the past year alone. These small, cheap and too easily thrown away items contain valuable materials such as copper, gold, and lithium which are lost forever and could instead power our tech future. 

“These changes to regulations will mean that online marketplaces, many of which are selling FastTech and other electricals, must take on their producer responsibilities and contribute their share of the costs of recycling them.

“Creating a separate category for vapes also means that those who have been profiting from the boom in their sales can be held responsible for providing public takeback, communications and most importantly pay for recycling them.”

Research from Material Focus estimates that British households incorrectly throw away over 100,000 tonnes of smaller household electrical items, such as kettles and lamps, every year. In addition, an estimated 880 million unwanted items containing valuable commodities such as gold and platinum, are abandoned or ignored in the back of the UK’s cupboards and drawers. 

Under the plans, online marketplaces will need to register with the Environment Agency and report data on UK sales of their overseas sellers. This data will be used to calculate the financial contribution the online marketplace will make towards the costs of collection and treatment of waste electricals that are collected by local authorities and returned to retailers.  The cost of that annual registration will be subject to a consultation led by the Environment Agency. 

A new category of electrical equipment for vapes will also be introduced to ensure that the costs of collecting and treating vapes fall fairly on those who produce them.   

Material Focus found almost 5 million vapes are either littered or thrown away in general waste every week in the UK. Vapes are rarely designed with the end of life in mind and are difficult and time consuming to recycle, a cost that is not always being borne by those who produce them.  

Acting on these important issues now will help address unfairness and deliver on our commitment to kick-start the push towards a circular economy.   

UK Government action to end the throwaway society

To further deliver this, the UK Government has formed a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising of members from industry, academia, and civil society across the UK. They will lead on the development of a Circular Economy Strategy for England, which will be published next year outlining how individual sectors can contribute to ambitions in this area.   

This is alongside plans to move forward with the implementation of the deposit return scheme for drinks containers and extended producer responsibility for packaging that will end the nation’s throwaway culture and stop the avalanche of rubbish that is filling up our high streets, countryside, and oceans.    

These packaging reforms will collectively support 21,000 jobs, stimulate more than £10 billion investment in recycling capability during the next decade, and drive £1 billion worth of investment opportunities in plastics infrastructure.    

Discussions between the UK Government and devolved governments on other proposals from the consultation will continue. Plans for wider reforms that reflect their strategic priorities in the drive towards a circular economy across the UK will be set out next year.   

The formal consultation response can be accessed online.

Call for UK Government support in scrapping the two-child limit

Social Justice Secretary writes to counterpart seeking early engagement

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to Liz Kendall, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, to follow up on the commitment to scrap the two-child limit from 2026.

The Scottish Government’s plan to mitigate the limit on Universal Credit, announced as part of the 2025-26 budget, will require cooperation from the Department for Work and Pensions to enable systems development and data-sharing.

In the letter to Ms Kendall, Ms Somerville said: “Eradicating child poverty in Scotland is a national mission and we believe that this policy will be a key driver in delivering that mission.

“The Scottish Government is committing the resources required to begin the preparatory work in the coming financial year with a view to making the first mitigation payments in 2026-27.

“The Finance Secretary was careful to note that co-operation with your Department will be necessary, which I understand will primarily need to centre around systems development and data sharing.

“We will also want to work with you to ensure that any mitigation payments are disregarded as income for benefit calculations. The Scottish Government is keen to progress this work as soon as possible. I would therefore be keen to meet before Christmas to discuss our policy and how, together, we might best be kept appraised of progress as officials take forward this work.”

Two-child limit: Letter to UK Government – gov.scot

Starmer set to unveil Plan for Change

Later this week the Prime Minister will set out ambitious milestones for change that will deliver ‘real, tangible improvement to the lives of working people across the country’

  • PM to galvanise action across government and beyond with radical next phase of Mission delivery
  • Measurable milestones will be set out in new Plan for Change, that will put working people’s priorities first 
  • Relentless prioritisation will ensure that the government delivers for working people this Parliament 

The Prime Minister will set out ambitious milestones for change that will deliver real, tangible improvement to the lives of working people across the country in this Parliament, later this week. 

The Plan for Change will mark the next phase of Mission-led government, as the PM continues to take an unrelenting approach to delivering on the priorities of working people.

The Missions – growing the economy, an NHS fit for the future, safer streets, secure power through clean energy and opportunity for all – are part of a decade of national renewal, built on the foundations of a stable economy, national security and secure borders.

The government has already made significant progress on its Missions since July; fixing the foundations of the country and kicking off the first steps to deliver real change. This has included stabilising the economy, establishing a new Border Security Command that will smash the gangs and tackle small boat crossings, and investing an extra £22bn building an NHS fit for the future including an extra 40,000 appointments. 

This action has all taken place having inherited the unprecedented twin challenges of crumbling public services and crippled public finances. The government has had to make difficult decisions, including reforming agricultural property relief and targeting the winter fuel allowance. 

Having taken action to fix the foundations and kick off the First Steps, the Plan for Change will set out ambitious but achievable milestones on the Missions that will be reached by the end of the Parliament, driving real improvements in the lives of working people. 

Achieving them will demand that the attention and resources of government are relentlessly focused on making sure the Missions are delivering on what matters most to working people in every corner of the UK. 

The milestones are part of the Prime Minister’s drive to do government radically differently, and will reflect the priorities of working people, allowing them to hold government to account on its progress.

Work to deliver them will be underpinned by innovation and reform, alongside close working with partners across business, civil society, and local government.  

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This Plan for Change is the most ambitious yet honest programme for government in a generation.

“Mission-led government does not mean picking milestones because they are easy or will happen anyway. It means relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people.

“We are already fixing the foundations and have kicked-started our first steps for change, stabilising the economy, setting up a new Border Security Command, and investing £22bn in an NHS that is fit for the future. 

“Our Plan for Change is the next phase of delivering this government’s mission. Some may oppose what we are doing and no doubt there will be obstacles along the way, but this government was elected on mandate of change and our plan reflects the priorities of working people. 

“Given the unprecedented challenges we have inherited we will not achieved this by simply doing more of the same which is why investment comes alongside a programme of innovation and reform.”

The relentless prioritisation will be at the heart of the choices made in the next Spending Review – which will look at every pound the government spends, line by line, taking a zero-based approach to how departments are funded. 

The milestones will be underpinned by an ‘ambitious programme of public sector reform’, building on the reform work already started on planning, national infrastructure, pensions, industrial strategy, and the labour market.  

As part of this work, the Prime Minister will also charge the new Cabinet Secretary and all Cabinet Ministers to reform Whitehall so that it is geared to Mission delivery rather than working in the traditional silos that focus on fiefdoms not outcomes.

Statutory levy and online slot stake limits to be introduced to tackle gambling harm

UK Government to bring forward statutory levy on gambling operators to generate £100 million for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms

  • Government to bring forward statutory levy as first step to strengthening harmful gambling protections
  • Mandated levy to generate £100 million for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms, with half of funding to directly benefit NHS-led gambling treatment system
  • Government also confirms online slot stake limits of £5 for over 25s and £2 for young adults aged 18 to 24

The Westminster government has taken its first steps towards strengthening gambling harm legislation today, confirming plans to implement a statutory levy on gambling profits and online slot stake limits to help tackle the issue of gambling addiction. 

Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has outlined how a levy on gambling operators will be designed and implemented as the government moves forward on its manifesto commitment to reduce gambling harm. 

The landmark levy will be charged to all licensed operators and will guarantee increased, ringfenced and consistent funding to prevent and tackle gambling harm. 

Under the current voluntary system not all gambling companies contribute equally, with some operators paying as little as £1 a year towards research, prevention and treatment. The new mandatory levy will ensure all operators contribute a fair share. 

The Gambling Minister has also confirmed that the government will introduce stake limits for online slots, a higher-risk gambling product associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play. 

Stake limits will be set at £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for 18-24 year olds. 

Evidence from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the Gambling Survey for Great Britain shows young adults can be particularly vulnerable to gambling related harm with under 25s having one of the highest proportion of respondents scoring 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) of any age group.

Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross said: “Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives. We are absolutely committed to implementing strengthened measures for those at risk, as well as providing effective support for those affected. 

“The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm. 

“We are also helping to protect those at risk, with a particular focus on young adults, by introducing stake limits for online slots. 

“These measures will help build an NHS fit for our future and strengthen protections whilst also allowing people to continue to gamble safely.”

From October 2023 to January 2024, the government sought views from clinicians, academics, the industry and the wider public on how the levy should be designed and implemented. 

In its response to this consultation, the government has confirmed 50% of all funding generated will be directed to NHS England and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales to develop a comprehensive support and treatment system. This will include referrals and triage, through to recovery and aftercare.

Prevention is a crucial part of the government’s efforts to tackle gambling harm. 30% of levy funding will go towards investment in this area, which could include measures such as national public health campaigns and training for frontline staff. The government is taking the time to get the important decision on the future of prevention right and will publish next steps in the coming months.

The remaining 20% of funding will be directed to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Gambling Commission to develop bespoke Research Programmes on Gambling, undertaking vital research to inform future policy and regulation.

Claire Murdoch, NHS national director for mental health, said: “Problem gambling can completely ruin lives and the issue has skyrocketed, with NHS services treating record numbers and our latest data showing a staggering 129% increase in service referrals compared with the same period last year.

“I am delighted to welcome this commitment to a mandatory gambling levy which the NHS, bereaved families and the voluntary sector have been calling for so we can treat this growing problem – and we will continue to work with government to do all we can to protect problem gamblers from this billion-pound industry.”

Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms at NHS England, said: “Gambling harms have a devastating effect on people’s lives. We know that 2.5% of the population are gambling in a severe and harmful way but many more are affected, whether family members or gamblers already experiencing negative consequences but below the clinical threshold. 

“We recognise the need for more action, which is why I am thrilled to support the Government’s new levy, which will help us address the negative impact of gambling harms on communities using treatment, prevention and research through an independent evidence-based strategy at last.”

Funding from the levy will be distributed to the NHS and UKRI, the umbrella body for research councils, by the Gambling Commission under the strategic direction of the government. The gambling industry will have no say over how money for research, prevention and treatment is spent. 

The levy will be charged to all licensed gambling activity at varying levels depending on the sector and nature of the gambling activity to ensure impacts are proportionate. Rates take into account the difference in operating costs and the levels of harmful gambling associated with different gambling activities. 

Minister for Health Andrew Gwynne said: “Tackling gambling harm is a crucial part of our commitment to support people to live longer, healthier lives.

“This levy will provide an important funding boost for the NHS, whilst also enabling independent research and more effective prevention initiatives.

“By making NHS England responsible for all treatment and support services for those experiencing gambling-related harms in England, we will ensure people are getting the most effective care possible.”

Technological developments in recent years have paved the way for a dramatic shift in the ways people gamble. Gambling has moved away from betting shops and casinos to people being able to play anywhere, anytime, on their phones, leading to a significant increase in online gambling behaviour. 

The levy and online slot stake limits announced today complements a raft of major changes the government and the Gambling Commission is delivering to make gambling safer in an age of technological advances. This includes including financial risk checks to better alert operators to risky behaviours and tighter controls on marketing. 

TUC: Workers’ rights reforms could benefit economy by over £13bn a year

  • New analysis shows how improving employment standards, employee well-being and modernising industrial relations will benefit the economy
  • TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak gave evidence to MPs as Employment Rights Bill enters committee stage
  • Making Work Pay agenda is an “urgent national mission” that is “good for workers and good for business”, says union body

New TUC analysis published yesterday (Tuesday) shows that even modest gains from the government’s workers’ rights reforms would benefit the UK economy by over £13bn a year.

The analysis models some of the key benefits of the Employment Rights Bill – identified by the government’s impact assessment of the Bill.

The research shows that even if the Bill just delivers small improvements in areas such as employee wellbeing, industrial relations and labour market participation the economic gains will outweigh any costs.

The analysis looks at the scale of the benefits implementing the Employment Rights Bill could bring across a range of workplace measures:

  • Workplace stress: Between £490 million and £974 million would be gained by reducing the number of working days lost to stress, depression or anxiety.
  • Staff well-being: Between £310 million and £930 million a year would be gained from improving staff well-being.
  • Minimum wage compliance: Between £42 million and £168 million a year would be gained through improving minimum wage compliance.
  • Strikes: Between £255 million and £510 million a year would be gained through resolving disputes that lead to workers taking action.
  • Industrial relations: Between £2.7bn and £8.1bn a year would be gained through reduced workplace conflict
  • Increased labour market participation: Between £1.3bn and £2.6bn a year would be gained through increasing employment for people currently looking after family or home.

The research shows that the cumulative impact of even modest improvements would be £13.3bn a year – and stronger outcomes could generate even greater gains.  

The TUC says the analysis confirms the view of the government’s impact assessment that there is “clear, evidence-based benefits of government action through the Bill.”

The impact assessment also warns that “not acting would enable poor working conditions, insecure work, inequalities and broken industrial relations to persist.”

Evidence to MPs

The findings were published as TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak prepared to give evidence to MPs as the Employment Rights Bill enters its committee stage.

Nowak told parliamentarians that improving the quality of work in Britain is an “urgent national mission” that will benefit workers and businesses alike.

Polling published in July revealed huge backing across the political spectrum for boosting workers’ rights.

And polling published in September revealed that an overwhelming majority (75%) of employers support the government’s measures, including nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) of small businesses.  

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Far too many working people are trapped in jobs that offer them little or no security. We can’t carry on with this broken status quo.

“Improving the quality of work in this country is an urgent national mission that will bring real economic gains.

“Driving up employment standards, improving employee well-being and increasing labour market participation is good for staff and good for businesses.

“When workers are treated well they are happier, healthier and more productive.

“The Employment Rights Bill is a historic opportunity to make work pay – and to create a level playing field that stops good employers from being undercut by the bad.  

“It must be delivered in full.”

Commenting on the impact of the Bill on employers, Paul added: “The TUC stands ready to work with the government and employers. We recognise that businesses and unions will need advice to understand and implement these changes.

“But there is no case for delaying the reforms. People need jobs they can build a decent life on.

“Many of the arguments being used against this legislation are the same ones that were used against introducing the minimum wage – one of the great policy successes of the last 25 years.

“They were wrong then and they are wrong now. When working people thrive so do businesses and the wider economy.” 

Spending watchdog disclaims UK Government’s accounts for the first time

  • The disclaimed audit opinion from the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Gareth Davies, on the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) 2022-23 is the first ever.
  • The cause is the severe backlogs in English local authority audits, with the consequence that there is inadequate assurance over material amounts throughout the WGA.
  • The WGA is a vital tool in the management and scrutiny of public spending, as it brings together all public sector assets and liabilities. It is essential that the steps being taken by Government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective.  
  • The PAC Chair’s statement can be found here PAC Chair’s statement – WGA.pdf. The link to the WGA 22/23 can be found in the notes to editors. 

Backlogs in firms’ audits of England’s 426 local authorities have led to the National Audit Office (NAO) disclaiming the 2022-23 WGA for the first time.

As well as local authority accounts, the WGA combines the accounts of over 10,000 public bodies, such as central government departments, devolved administrations, the NHS, academy schools and public corporations.

Within his audit report, the NAO’s head, Gareth Davies, said he had been “unable to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence upon which to form an opinion”.

Just over 10% (43) of England’s 426 local authorities submitted reliable data to the WGA.

Of the near 90% of local authorities that failed to submit reliable data, 46% (196) submitted information that hasn’t been audited, and 44% (187) did not submit any data at all.

The Government is taking steps to address the backlog in audited accounts for English local authorities, including the use of fixed dates by which each year’s audits must be completed.

This process is unlikely to allow the disclaimer on WGA to be removed for 2023-24, but it does offer a medium-term solution to the problem.

The WGA is a vital tool in the management and scrutiny of public spending, as it brings together all public sector assets, liabilities, income and expenditure. This means that long-term costs to the public purse such as clinical negligence and nuclear decommissioning are visible to policy makers and Parliamentarians.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO said: “It is clearly not acceptable that delays in audited accounts for English local authorities have made it impossible for me to provide assurance on the Whole of Government Accounts for 2022-23.

“It is essential that the steps being taken by Government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective”.

  • The disclaiming of the WGA is in relation to local authority audit omissions and unaudited returns. The impact of this impact is so large and pervasive that the Comptroller and Auditor General is unable to give any opinion on the WGA at all. The C&AG continues to provide assurance over all central government departments via their statutory departmental accounts on an annual basis, and the disclaimer of the WGA does not impact upon the opinions he gives on those accounts.
  • The 22/23 accounts can be found here: WGA_2022-23_final_accounts.pdf 
  • Page 279 includes the audit certificate from the Comptroller and Auditor General. 

MPs to vote on landmark smoking ban

Votes on the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill will move the UK one step closer to becoming smoke-free

  • Vote will move the UK one step closer to becoming smoke-free, shielding the next generation from the harms of smoking.
  • Ambitious plans to protect children from vaping, including ban on vape advertising and sale of vapes in vending machines, in addition to restricting vape flavours, packaging and shop display.
  • Bill bolstered by additional £10m of support for enforcement and £70m for stop smoking services.

MPs will today (26 November) vote on the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill, moving the UK one step closer to protecting future generations from the harms of smoking and vaping.

The ambitious Bill includes plans to clamp down on youth vaping with many of the measures specifically aimed at protecting children.   

Subject to consultation, the sale of vape flavours that overtly appeal to children – such as bubble gum, gummy bear and cotton candy – could be brought to an end, alongside restrictions on vape packaging that is designed to appeal to young people.  

The Bill will bring in a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship which will include displays that will likely be seen by children and young people such as on buses, in cinemas, and in shop windows, bringing this in line with current tobacco restrictions.  

All vaping and nicotine products will be banned from being sold to under 18s – closing loopholes on non-nicotine vapes and nicotine pouches. Vapes will also be banned in vending machines, where they can be easily accessed by children. The free distribution of these products will also be banned.  

If passed, the Bill will progress to the next parliamentary stage, bringing the UK one step closer to creating the first smoke-free generation. 

The Bill will help achieve one of the three key shifts in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, to move from sickness to prevention. 

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said:  “The number of children vaping is growing at an alarming rate and without urgent intervention, we’re going to have a generation of children with long-term addiction. 

“It is unacceptable that these harmful products are being deliberately targeted at children with brightly coloured packaging and flavours like ‘gummy bear’ and ‘rainbow burst’.  

“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides the protection that children and young people need to avoid a life imprisoned by addiction. That’s why it’s so incredibly important it is voted through.”  

To support current smokers to quit smoking, the government will provide £70 million for stop smoking services. This is in addition to all hospitals integrating ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care, making every clinical consultation count.  

To bolster enforcement, the government will provide an additional £10 million for Trading Standards to crack down on illicit trade. This comes off the back of new data from National Trading Standards (NTS) that show over 1 million illicit vapes were seized inland by Trading Standards in 2023-24, a 59% increase compared to the previous year.  

In a separate programme coordinated by NTS, 19 million illicit cigarettes and 5.2 tonnes of illicit hand-rolled tobacco were seized by Trading Standards in 2023-24. This is on top of the over 1 billion illicit cigarettes and 92.4 tonnes of illicit hand-rolled tobacco seized by HMRC and Border Force. 

The Bill will also include powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will introduce on the spot fines of £200 to retailers found to be selling these products to people underage. 

Expanding the use of highly effective standardised packaging to all tobacco products will also be explored. 

Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, said: “If this major piece of legislation is passed, it will accelerate a smokefree generation and lead to children never being trapped by addiction to cigarettes with lifelong harms to their health.

“The rising number of children vaping is a significant concern, and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help prevent marketing vapes to children, which is utterly unacceptable. Smoking results in direct harm across a person’s life course but also causes harms to others around them, including children, pregnant women and the medically vulnerable.

“Reducing the number of vulnerable people exposed to second-hand smoke, as well as preventing non-smokers taking up vaping is important and will improve the health of the nation.”

The NHS also recently announced the rollout of a once-a-day pill that could help tens of thousands of people give up cigarettes. It also follows the government laying new legislation in October banning the sale of single-use vapes from 1 June 2025. 

NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “Vaping among young people is a significant and growing concern and we wholeheartedly welcome the Government’s commitment to tackle this as part of the measures outlined in this bill.

“Smoking also remains the leading cause of preventable deaths and has a huge impact on the NHS, costing billions every year and we look forward to working with the government and partners to ensure the next generation grow up smoke and vape free.”

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will give government the powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces: with children’s playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals all being considered in England, subject to consultation. These powers will also allow places that are currently smoke-free to be made vape-free, subject to consultation.  

Sarah Sleet, chief executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “The announcement of additional funding for smoking cessations services is desperately needed to help the tens of thousands of existing smokers who want to quit, which is incredibly difficult to do without support.

“Stop smoking services have suffered drastic cuts in recent years, but when they are appropriately funded they do a fantastic job of supporting people to stop smoking for good.

“Today’s vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is the crucial next step towards protecting younger generations from the harms of smoking, by stopping them from ever taking up cigarettes.

“However, it’s only by tackling the whole problem that we can truly begin to put a stop to the devasting effects this deadly addiction has on the health of the nation, and the huge burden it places on the NHS.”

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health said: “Every day around 350 young people start smoking, and two thirds of long-term smokers will die due to smoking.

“Passing this Bill is a vital way the Government can start to end the unprecedented harm caused by tobacco, protecting the health of the next generation by ensuring they won’t become addicted to smoking.

“Alongside the legislation funding is necessary to help the millions who currently smoke to quit and accelerate the creation of a smokefree country and the announcement today is welcome.”

Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK, said: “Tobacco still causes around 160 cancer cases every day in the UK. But with strong political will and bold action, these staggering numbers can be turned around. 

“By voting in favour of this historic legislation, MPs have the power to help save lives and make the UK a world leader in tobacco control.

“Raising the age of sale of tobacco products and funding cessation support will save people from a deadly and costly addiction. I urge politicians to prioritise the health of the nation and help end cancers caused by smoking for good.” 

In England, the Health and Social Care Secretary launched Change.NHS.UK to encourage the biggest conversation ever about the NHS to help inform the plan.

Acceptance of cash to be investigated by Treasury Committee

Westminster’s Treasury Committee is asking for evidence as it examines whether rules are needed to govern the acceptance of physical cash in the UK, ahead of public sessions which could begin in December. 

Though the use of cash has declined over recent years, it remains a vital resource to many, with around 3.1 million people in the UK relying almost entirely on cash as a form of payment. Research indicates that the use of cash can provide a vital lifeline to groups such as those with long term poor health or people at risk of economic abuse. 

The Bank of England has noted that the decline in cash usage is increasing the infrastructure costs of retaining physical cash as a viable payment method, which could lead to disruption for businesses and consumers. 

Others have highlighted the dangers of an overreliance on digital payments, suggesting cash acceptance should be viewed as a form of civil preparedness. There are currently no regulations which require businesses to accept cash.  

Submissions can be made via the Treasury Committee website evidence portal. 

Call for evidence

Evidence submitted to the Committee should seek to answer one or more of the following questions: 

What is the current state of, and recent trends in, physical cash acceptance in the UK? Any forecasts on physical cash acceptance would be welcome.  

  1. Are there groups in society which disproportionately rely on businesses and public services accepting physical cash?
    • What challenges do they face? 
  2. Should the Government require parts of the economy to always accept physical cash?
    • Are there individual sectors of the economy where physical cash acceptance is particularly important, and should be protected?
  3. What are the practical challenges that businesses might face from having to always accept physical cash?
    • How do these challenges differ between large and small businesses?
  4. What would the costs to private firms and the public sector be from any imposed requirements to always accept physical cash?
  5. How might any requirement for certain firms and public services to always accept physical cash affect financial services firms, especially those related to the provision of physical cash?
  6. Are there any other areas or particular sectors where a decline in cash acceptance would cause problems? 

Unacceptable levels of shop theft ‘causing serious harm to society’

Westminster’s Justice and Home Affairs Committee today publishes a letter to the Minister for Policing, Crime and Fire Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson MP, after conducting an inquiry into shop theft.

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee conducted an inquiry into shop theft. The Committee finds that shop theft is an underreported crime that is not being effectively tackled, leading to a devastating impact on the retail sector and the wider economy.

The Committee heard that there are almost 17 million incidents of shop theft annually, with few leading to an arrest and costing the retail sector almost £2 billion last year.

The nature of the offence has evolved from individualised offending to relentless, large-scale, organised operations accompanied by unprecedented levels of violence. Shop theft is now seen as a lucrative profit-making opportunity which is being exploited by organised criminal networks.

There is a widespread perception that shop theft is not treated seriously by the police. The Committee recognises the need for quicker reporting systems, better data collection and intelligence sharing between police forces across the UK.

The Committee welcomes the work of Pegasus, the new national scheme to tackle organised crime in the retail sector and recommends that existing schemes such as Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (linking police and local businesses) should all be part of a National Standards Accreditation Scheme.

The Committee concludes:

  • The outdated term “shoplifting” serves to trivialise the severity of the offence and should be phased out.
  • The Committee supports the plan to repeal the offence of “low-value shoplifting” under section 176 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, which in practice is decriminalising shop theft where the value of the goods does not exceed £200.
  • The Committee supports the creation of a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker.
  • Improved reporting systems are required to enable retailers to report crime to the police quickly and easily.
  • The Committee recommends improving mechanisms for police and criminal justice systems to recognise and record when a crime has taken place in a retail setting.
  • Increased funding to community-based reoffending and rehabilitation initiatives are crucial to help divert prolific drug and alcohol addicted offenders away from further offending.
  • Public awareness campaigns are needed to target the stolen goods market.
  • The Committee supports the introduction of regulations and best practice guidance for the use of facial recognition technology by private companies.

Lord Foster of Bath, Chair of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee said: “In March 2024, 443,9953 incidents of shop theft were recorded by police – a 30% increase on the previous year and the highest-ever level since comparable records began over twenty years ago.

“But the figures are “a drop in the ocean” when compared with likely real figures estimated at 17 million with devastating consequences for businesses and families.

“The scale of the shop theft problem within England and Wales is totally unacceptable and action, like that underway in the Pegasus scheme, is vital and urgent.

“There’s no silver bullet. But, if adopted, the recommendations in our report should help tackle the problem and help keep the public and our economy safer.”