Responding to the government announcing the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

“Tackling the harms of tobacco and vaping is a key goal of local health and care leaders, and we welcome measures to help reduce the impact of smoking on people’s health and society. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and is a key driver of health inequalities, with higher prevalence of smoking in areas with higher levels of deprivation. Smoking causes 76,000 deaths a year in the UK and we know radical measures are needed if we want to make our nation healthier.

“Ultimately the goal is a smoke free future for Britain, reducing health inequalities, and reducing the huge problems that are caused to people and society by smoking.

“This will be a long journey, with many steps along the way, so it is not surprising that there will be hard decisions which will need to be carefully considered and thought through. But as a society it seems we recognise that this is the right direction of travel.

“We have welcomed the government’s commitment to prioritise prevention and its mission-based approach to the population’s health. We also welcome the consultation into extending the outdoor smoking ban into other outdoor areas. The evidence is clear that people exposed to second-hand smoke can face the same health risks as smokers themselves.

“Our members will welcome this Bill as further indication that the government is not shying away from difficult and potentially unpopular decisions to bring in a healthier future for the next generation.”