Tobacco and Vapes Bill Report Stage: New Clause 19

Parliament voted on 26 March 2025 on New Clause 19 to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would have required the government to publish an annual report on the illicit market for nicotine-based products, covering illegal tobacco and vapes. The motion was defeated by 307 votes to 159. The practical effect of the vote is that no new statutory duty to produce a dedicated annual report on the illicit nicotine market will be placed on government. Supporters of the clause argued that as the generational smoking ban takes effect, the illegal trade in tobacco and vapes is likely to grow, making structured parliamentary oversight more important. The government's position, articulated during debate, was that HMRC already publishes annual data on the illicit tobacco market and will do the same for vaping products once the new vaping products duty takes effect in October 2026, while the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers also produces annual enforcement reports. On that basis, ministers argued the new clause would only duplicate existing reporting. The division split almost entirely along party lines. All 273 Labour MPs and 31 Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted did so against the clause, delivering the government's majority. The Conservatives supplied 84 of the 159 ayes, joined by all 61 voting Liberal Democrats, 5 Reform UK MPs, 3 Plaid Cymru MPs, 2 Democratic Unionist Party MPs, and 2 independents. The Green Party's three voting MPs sided with the government. The Bill passed its Third Reading on the same day by 366 to 41, showing broad cross-party support for the legislation as a whole despite disagreements over specific provisions.