Sharon Hodgson MP comment on the new Tobacco Control Plan

Sharon
Hodgson MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Public Health, commenting on
the new Tobacco Control Plan, said:

“Labour
have long campaigned for a new Tobacco Control Plan, including a commitment in
our 2017 manifesto, while the Government have dithered and delayed for eighteen
months. In the House of Commons this month, in response to my question about
this, Ministers finally committed to publishing the plan this summer.

“Whilst
the plan sets out a bold approach to creating a smoke-free society, with a
shift from national action to local action, what it fails to do is recognise
the deep cuts being inflicted upon local councils who are seeing their public
health budgets slashed.

“This
plan can only be effective if the right level of funding is found to implement
it, otherwise it is doomed to fail. Ministers cannot go on any longer ignoring
the implications of their short-sighted cuts to public health budgets, which
are vital to improving our nation’s and our NHS’s health.”