THE MP for Copeland has highlighted the above average rates of smoking in pregnancy across Cumbria, the extremely powerful impacts of nicotine addiction and consequences to unborn babies.
As a member of the Tobacco and Vapes Committee, Trudy Harrison MP is backing Government plans to create the first ever smokefree generation.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill was voted on in the Commons last month passing by 383 votes to 67 and has since progressed to its committee stage.
The Bill will make it an offence to sell tobacco products to those born on or after 1 January 2009, meaning anyone who turns 15 or younger in 2024 will never legally be sold tobacco products.
Reducing the appeal and availability of vaping products is also a key component of the Bill, along with strengthening enforcement of underage sales of tobacco and vapes.
During the session, Trudy Harrison MP stated that across Cumbria, 12.3% of women at the point of giving birth say they are still smoking, asking Kate Brintworth, NHS England, Chief Midwifery Officer, “why have we left it so long to be having these conversations, and bringing this bill forward”.
Ms Brintworth said: “I think nationally it's a little over 7 per cent of women who are still smoking. The fact that that has proved very difficult to shift is a poignant demonstrator of just how difficult it is, how addictive nicotine is when all women want to do is the right thing for their children.
“I think that's why all the chief nursing officers, all the chief midwifery officers across the four countries are absolutely united in support of this, as medical colleagues are because we see the damage that this causes, across families, across generations and so we're hundred percent supporting this.”