Vaping 'to be banned outside schools and hospitals' in move backed by Chris Whitty

Under Rishi Sunak's plans, packaging, promotion and flavouring of vapes were due to be restricted.

Wes Streeting is now considering the move to ban the act outside hospitals and schools in an effort to ensure children do not take up the habit.

Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, is said to favour the move.

It's understood that he has also argued for including pub gardens in the ban.

Ministers however are unlikely to include vaping in the outdoor ban, as they have accepted the need to treat it differently to cigarettes.

They are considered to be safer than smoking and the government has been trying to encourage smokers to switch to the electronic version.

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However, there has been concern over the attraction children are having to vapes, with their use rising amongst youths.

Whitty has repeatedly criticised the “utterly unacceptable” practice of marketing vapes to children, accusing companies of behaving in a “shameful way”.

Writing in The Times, he said vaping was "not risk free".

He wrote: "If you smoke, vaping is much safer - if you don't smoke, don't vape."

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of the anti-smoking charity Ash, said: “The government should publish the bill as soon as possible, putting an end to speculation over its intentions and bringing forward the day when we begin to end smoking for good.

“Tougher regulation on vapes is needed, particularly to protect children from aggressive marketing.

"Extensions to smoke-free regulations can also accelerate progress to a smoke-free country, but a full consultation is needed to ensure any new rules don’t have unintended consequences and support the government’s intention to help more smokers to quit.”