Dan Jarvis, MP for Barnsley Central has challenged Anna Soubry, Minister for Health to introduce standardised cigarette packaging in the UK.

Speaking in the Chamber, Dan asked the Minister whether the Government is planning to legislate for plain packaging, considering other countries like Australia and New Zealand have introduced such measures.

Dan said, “According to the latest figures from Cancer Research UK, 1,100 10-14 year olds are regular smokers in Barnsley alone. This is a staggering figure and action must be taken to tackle this extremely serious issue. I am therefore calling on the Government to introduce standardised packaging as soon as possible, to give our children one less reason to start smoking.”

He added, “The tobacco industry is relying more and more on stylish tobacco packs to recruit new smokers. With eight out of ten smokers starting by the age of 19, plain packs will take us one step closer to a future where people don’t start smoking in the first place.”

Dan is doing his own bit in the fight against cancer. This Sunday, he will be joining thousands of other runners in the London Marathon in support of Cancer Research UK.

Dan concluded by saying, “I would like to ask you to consider making a donation to Cancer Research UK by sponsoring me. By making a donation you will be supporting life-saving research, bringing forward the day when all cancers are cured. I believe a day will come when we beat cancer – let’s make it sooner rather than later.”

If you would like to sponsor Dan, you can do so by visiting his JustGiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/danjarvismp