William Eichler 18 January 2023

Councillors call for ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco

Councillors call for ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco  image
Image: chayanuphol/Shutterstock.com.

Local councillors across England have urged the Government to introduce a ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco manufacturers and to replace the expired plan to control tobacco.

The call for a levy and a new Tobacco Control Plan follows a new report from Cancer Research UK warning that the UK Government is almost a decade behind achieving its target for England to be smokefree by 2030.

The Tobacco Control Plan for England, published in 2017, expired at the end of 2022.

In response to Cancer Research UK’s report, nearly 50 councillors have written to the secretary of state for health and social care, Steve Barclay MP, urging the Government to bring forward a new Tobacco Control Plan and to introduce a ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco manufacturers.

Coordinated by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and Cancer Research UK, the letter highlights the fact that smoking is responsible for around 125,000 deaths per year and around 150 new cancer cases every day.

It also warns that an estimated £3.6bn each year goes on smoking-related health and social care costs in England.

The letter reads: ‘Public health budgets have been squeezed, with many of us forced to make difficult decisions about the services we can offer to support our constituents. As councils, we are uniquely positioned to drive forward activity on tobacco across place and system. However, without bold national action and sustainable funding solution, our efforts will not be enough.

‘We urge you to publish a bold new Tobacco Control Plan including a "polluter pays" levy without delay to secure the investment we need to make the Smokefree 2030 ambition a reality in our communities.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Specialist Teaching Assistant (or Communication Support Worker)

Oxfordshire County Council
£25992 - £33366
About the role Together, we’re shaping children’s education for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire by providing children and young people with the best possible education. We a Deaf and Hearing Support Resource Base, New Marsto
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Education Access Specialist

Essex County Council
£42761.0000 - £50307.0000 per annum
Education Access SpecialistFixed Term, Full Time£42,761 to £50,307 per annum Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

EHCP Casework Officer

Oxfordshire County Council
£44711 - £47754
About the Role We’ve transformed the way we help our communities to get the best outcomes possible for every child and family we work with. As part of this, we continue to invest in Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND), with the growth of Samuelson House
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Technical Account Supervisor

North Yorkshire Council
£41,511- £45,718
Do you have experience in building surveying, project management or property management? Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Education Access Specialist

Essex County Council
£42761.0000 - £50307.0000 per annum
Education Access SpecialistPermanent, Part Time£42,761 to £50,307 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner