''Make Tobacco Firms Pay the cost of Quitting Smoking''

Source from:  The Echo 06/12/2015

Tobacco companies should be forced to pay the costs of reducing smoking, according to an MP.

Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on cancer, is backing Action on Smoking and Health's call for an annual levy on tobacco firms.

The group, supported by 120 health organisations in the country, believes the fund, which would pay for stop smoking services, could save thousands of lives and save the NHS money.

A report by Action on Smoking and Health reveals 159,000 households in the East of England include an adult smoker.

Mr Baron said: "Every day 200 people die from smoking-related illnesses, including cancers. We must do more to reduce these preventable conditions.

"I would welcome a strategy update from the Government to achieve this, and look forward to reading its response to the report."

Smoking costs the NHS in the East of England at least £185million a year, plus a further £1.3billion in wider costs to society. No investment programme to reduce smoking exists in the region.

British Heart Foundation chief executive Simon Gillespie added: "We need a comprehensive new strategy, sustained investment in tobacco control and strong political will to show we are serious about reducing the devastating damage smoking causes.

"By cutting smoking rates further, we can reduce the rate of heart attacks almost immediately."

The report calls for an ambitious target of achieving a5per cent smoking rate in the UK by 2035.

It states tobacco companies make £1billion profit in the UK each year, and calls on firms to contribute financially to address the harm caused by smoking. Enditem