Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay expressed his delight that Welsh Government plans to curb e-cigarette smoking in public were shelved in the Assembly last week.

In the last plenary session before May’s elections, the Welsh Government suffered a shock defeat as Assembly members voted down proposals made in the Public Health Bill.

Original plans to stop e-cig smokers ‘vaping’ in public indoor spaces such as pubs were replaced by proposals to limit use around children, before Assembly members threw out the measures.

Mr Ramsay, a Conservative, said the ban would harm those trying to give up smoking.

“I have always been opposed to the ban on e-cigarettes as there is currently no proof that the vapour is harmful.

 

“Introducing a ban would be a huge step backwards for smoking cessation, and I’m very pleased that pressure from Welsh Conservatives and other opposition parties achieved a sensible result in the end.

 

“We should be doing all we can to help people give up smoking not placing obstacles in their way.”

The proposals were first mooted by Health Minister Mark Drakeford, who said he had deep concerns that vaping would ‘re-normalise’ smoking in public.