New Clause 12
Health Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Michael Penning (Shadow Minister, Health; Hemel Hempstead, Conservative)
Yes, there are a number but they are scattered—a scattergun approach is probably the best way to describe it. Certain parts of the country get a lot of help and others get very little. There needs to be national strategy. There also needs to be a self-help element. I was dismayed recently when I spoke to one of the large retailers. It wanted to put nicotine replacement items up next to cigarettes in case people went in to buy cigarettes but—on impulse—thought, “I should really give up.” The retailer was precluded from doing that, and the Minister should address such matters.
Nicotine replacement is an expensive—but a key—part of smoking cessation. We should encourage as many people as possible to give up smoking. I want the Minister to bring together the key stakeholders before 21 July 2009, as the new clause states. If that date is not suitable, will she give me an idea of when that might happen?