More than one million smokers will be encouraged to swap cigarettes for vapes under a “swap to stop” scheme described by ministers as a world first.

As part of the scheme, vape starter kits will be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England.

The plans come under a push to make the nation “smoke-free”, ministers announced on Tuesday.

It will also see pregnant women offered up to £400 to stop smoking and a consultation will be launched on introducing mandatory advice on quitting smoking to be placed in cigarette packs.

Smokers to be encouraged to swap to vaping amid new plans

Campaigners have welcomed the new measures as “welcome steps in the right direction” but said they are “nowhere near sufficient”.

Experts widely expect the pledge to get the nation smoke-free by 2030, equating to getting smoking rates to less than 5%, to be missed without further action.

Swindon Advertiser:

Health Minister Neil O’Brien will launch the new schemes in a speech on Tuesday.

“Up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking. Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly,” he is expected to say.

“We will offer a million smokers new help to quit. We will be funding a new national ‘swap to stop’ scheme – the first of its kind in the world.

“We will work with councils and others to offer a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit.”

The free vaping starter kit will offer a choice of products, strengths and flavours will be on offer to allow smokers to find the best product for them.

The stop-to-swap scheme will come from the Department of Health and Social Care’s budget and will cost around £45 million over two years.

Swindon Advertiser:

Officials say 9% of women still smoke during pregnancy in England and hope a financial incentive alongside behavioural support will get all of them to stop by the end of the year.

Details are yet to be determined, but officials expect vouchers will be available throughout pregnancy and could total up to £400 if they complete the scheme.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Health campaign, said: “Vapes increase smokers’ chances of successfully quitting, as do vouchers for pregnant smokers, so these are welcome steps in the right direction, but they are nowhere near sufficient.”

The latest announcement comes on top of plans to crack down on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s.