To ask the Minister of Health when the development of a new Tobacco Control Strategy, including electronic cigarettes and vaping, will commence.

My Department’s 10-year Tobacco Control Strategy for Northern Ireland was launched in 2012. A recent review was carried out in collaboration with a number of relevant stakeholders and the report was published on the Department’s website in February 2020. This includes recommendations that provide an opportunity to refocus on priority areas for the remaining term of the strategy.

Since then, my Department has been dealing with a considerable number of issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has had significant staffing implications and officials have been concentrating on assisting with the public health response to the ongoing emergency. However, consideration will be given to the future strategic direction around tobacco control in due course.