Written question WQ87480

Supporting children and young people to have a smoke-free childhood is a key part of our ambition for a smoke-free Wales. As part of the Tobacco Strategy, we have made it clear that we intend to work closely with those affected by tobacco, including young people, to understand their motivations for smoking or for using e-cigarettes and what interventions and communications methods will work, for example in education settings. We are currently looking at the messages we share with young people on smoking and e-cigarettes as part of the new curriculum and the JustB programme which is targeted at secondary school pupils in the areas with highest smoking prevalence.

Directors of Public Health and their teams, Welsh Network of Healthy Schools co-ordinators, Public Health Wales and other partners are engaged in active discussions with Local Authorities, schools, and others to consider how best to respond to concerns being raised about the use of e-cigarettes by young people. We have representatives from Local Authorities on both the Tobacco Strategy Strategic Board and on the Implementation group. In addition, we are currently working with ASH Wales, Public Health Wales, JustB programme leads in schools, Welsh Government education communication and curriculum leads, alongside our health leads to ensure the same consistent messaging on e-cigarettes is going out across all channels and in appropriate resources.

As part of the Tobacco Control Delivery Plan 2022-24 we are currently undertaking a review of the evidence, with the involvement of key stakeholders, with an overall aim of reviewing our policy position on e-cigarettes in Wales. The review will be evidence based, drawing conclusions from current national and international evidence to ensure there is a robust basis for its findings and recommendations. Part of this will also be to review effective approaches to prevention for children and young people. Results from the review will be published later this year. In addition, we have a communications and media campaign running in collaboration with Public Health Wales and Ash Wales to highlight the dangers of illegal tobacco to parents and retailers. There is a call to action to report sales of illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes via the ‘No Ifs. No Buts’ website which is managed by Ash Wales. The reports are given to Trading Standards who can investigate further. To support their role, we are working with an external training company, alongside ASH Wales to provide training to Trading Standards officers on illegal tobacco and subsequent seizures of products.