Question to the Minister of Health

Minister's answer

Reducing health inequalities is one of my key areas of focus and shortening the period of life spent in ill-health will help to reduce pressures on our health services and improve the quality of life for many of our population

Smoking is one of the key drivers of health inequalities in NI – with the smoking death rate in the most deprived communities twice as high as in the least deprived communities. Similarly, the NI Cancer Registry published statistics in July 2025 on lung cancer incidence shows that lung cancer incidence rates in the most deprived areas are almost double the rate seen in the least deprived areas.

The implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will therefore be a key action in helping to reduce these health inequalities.