Written question asked by Lord Kamall (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 December 2025. It was answered by Lord Hermer (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 2025 on behalf of the Attorney General.

Smoking: Northern Ireland

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what advice the Attorney General provided about the proportionality and applicability to Northern Ireland under World Trade Organization rules of the generational smoking ban in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, and the likelihood of a legal challenge at the World Trade Organization.

Answer

The Law Officers sit on the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee. As part of the process of approving a government Bill for introduction, as set out in the published Guide to Making Legislation, a legal issues memorandum is prepared for this Committee. This will set out all relevant legal issues.

Whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice outside of the PBL process is covered by the Law Officers’ Convention. This Convention provides that whether or not the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL12634
Session: 2024-26
Subjects: Legal opinion Northern Ireland World Trade Organization Smoking
Legislation: Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024-26
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Smoking: Northern Ireland

Secondary information

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