This week saw the government announce new measures to tackle the marketing and illegal sale of vapes to children.
Selling vaping products to under-18s is of course, illegal; however, firms have been using loopholes to market cheap, colourful, vapes to children. This has led to a rise in teenagers taking up vaping. As such, the government has announced new measures to tackle this, including by preventing retailers offering free vape samples to children, adding lessons on the health risks of vapes to the curriculum, and launching a review into banning retailers selling nicotine-free vapes to under-18.
It is shameful that these firms have been specifically targeting vaping products at children, and I am therefore pleased that these new measures will protect our children’s health.
This week also saw the Prime Minister deliver a speech to our European allies on the importance of working together to protect our borders from illegal migration and to smash the evil people-smuggling gangs. The Prime Minister also announced a new partnership with Bulgaria to tackle the people smuggling gangs, a returns agreement with Georgia and the start of negotiations for a similar agreement with Moldova. Stopping the small boats on the Channel is one of the Prime Minister’s main priorities and by working with our allies we can strengthen the security of our borders and tackle the rise in organised immigration crime across Europe.
The first post-Brexit trade deals we negotiated outside of the European Union also came into force this week. The UK-Australia free trade agreement (FTA) and the UK-New Zealand FTA will create more high-paid jobs in the UK and new opportunities for British business as we grow the economy. The deals remove tariffs on all UK goods exports to the two countries, along with slashing red tape for digital trade and work visas and making it easier for the UK to access their services markets. Now that we are outside of the European Union, we can continue to negotiate new trade deals like these, which benefit British business and help grow our economy.
I was very pleased to hear that millions of people across the country will continue to benefit from the Government’s ‘Get Around for £2’ bus fare scheme, after the Government announced £200 million to continue capping a single bus ticket at £2 until November this year. The scheme was introduced in January to help people with the rising cost of living and encourage more people to use bus services. Since then, bus operators have carried more than 16 million passengers at £2, helping them save on average a third off fares. The scheme has particularly benefited those on lower incomes, who take nearly 3 times as many bus trips than those on higher incomes. The support will continue after November, with fares continuing to be capped at £2.50 until November 2024 – allowing passengers to continue to benefit from reduced fares for the next year and a half.
Finally, it was great to welcome the Cornerstone Church Art Café to my community office this week. It was fantastic to catch up with them and see the projects they were working on and the skills on show. I am keen to help as many charities and community groups as possible, so please do get in touch if you are interested in using the community office.
