Vape starter kits for one million smokers in 'swap to stop' scheme
Pregnant women will be offered up to £400 to stop smoking as part of a push the government has said is "the first of its kind in the world". One million cigarette smokers will be offered vape starter kits as part of a government "swap to stop" scheme to make the nation "smoke free". The kits will be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England as part of a push that is "the first of its kind in the world", Health Minister Neil O'Brien will announce on Tuesday. Pregnant women will be 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. Campaigners called the measures "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% - will be missed without further action.