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'£10 licence to smoke' proposed | '£10 licence to smoke' proposed |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Smokers could be forced to pay £10 for a permit to buy tobacco if a government health advisory body gets its way. | Smokers could be forced to pay £10 for a permit to buy tobacco if a government health advisory body gets its way. |
No one would be able to buy cigarettes without the permit, under the idea proposed by Health England. | |
Its chairman, Professor Julian Le Grand, told BBC Radio 5 Live the scheme would make a big difference to the number of people giving up smoking. | Its chairman, Professor Julian Le Grand, told BBC Radio 5 Live the scheme would make a big difference to the number of people giving up smoking. |
But smokers' rights group Forest described the idea as "outrageous", given how much tax smokers already pay. | But smokers' rights group Forest described the idea as "outrageous", given how much tax smokers already pay. |
Professor Le Grand, a former adviser to ex-PM Tony Blair, said cash raised by the proposed scheme would go to the NHS. | Professor Le Grand, a former adviser to ex-PM Tony Blair, said cash raised by the proposed scheme would go to the NHS. |
He said it was the inconvenience of getting a permit - as much as the cost - that would deter people from persisting with the smoking habit. | He said it was the inconvenience of getting a permit - as much as the cost - that would deter people from persisting with the smoking habit. |
"You've got to get a form, a complex form - the government's good at complex forms; you have got to get a photograph. | "You've got to get a form, a complex form - the government's good at complex forms; you have got to get a photograph. |
"It's a little bit of a problem to actually do it, so you have got to make a conscious decision every year to opt in to being a smoker." | "It's a little bit of a problem to actually do it, so you have got to make a conscious decision every year to opt in to being a smoker." |
'Extra bureaucracy' | 'Extra bureaucracy' |
He added: "70% of smokers actually want to stop smoking. | He added: "70% of smokers actually want to stop smoking. |
"So if you just make it that little bit more difficult for them to actually re-start or even to start in the first place, yes I think it will make a big difference." | "So if you just make it that little bit more difficult for them to actually re-start or even to start in the first place, yes I think it will make a big difference." |
But Forest said it would be "an extra form of taxation, while tobacco taxation is already at record levels". | But Forest said it would be "an extra form of taxation, while tobacco taxation is already at record levels". |
Forest spokesman Simon Clark said that when the cost of administration, extra bureaucracy and enforcement are taken into account, "the mind boggles". | Forest spokesman Simon Clark said that when the cost of administration, extra bureaucracy and enforcement are taken into account, "the mind boggles". |
He added that the people most affected by the proposals would be "the elderly and people on low incomes". | He added that the people most affected by the proposals would be "the elderly and people on low incomes". |
Mr Clark added: "The senior government advisor putting this idea forward is not only adding to the red tape and bureaucracy we already have in this country. | Mr Clark added: "The senior government advisor putting this idea forward is not only adding to the red tape and bureaucracy we already have in this country. |
"He is openly bragging that he wants to make the form as complex as possible to fill in." | "He is openly bragging that he wants to make the form as complex as possible to fill in." |
A department of health spokeswoman did not rule out such a scheme as part of the next wave of tobacco regulation. | A department of health spokeswoman did not rule out such a scheme as part of the next wave of tobacco regulation. |
She said: "We will be consulting later this year on the next steps on tobacco control. | She said: "We will be consulting later this year on the next steps on tobacco control. |
"Ministers are seeking input from a whole range of stakeholders." | "Ministers are seeking input from a whole range of stakeholders." |
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