Amendment 9, proposed by Rhys ab Owen, would add disposable e-cigarettes to the Schedule, meaning that they would be banned. Amendments 6, 8 and 10 are consequential to this amendment. Of course we recognise that there's anecdotal evidence of an increased littering problem with single-use e-cigarettes, but this is a complex area, as Rhys himself has just set out, and requires much further evidence gathering before we consider whether a ban is the most appropriate action.

From a health perspective, we have indeed historically had a cautious approach to e-cigarette products in Wales, given that the evidence on their long-term effects is developing and given their potential appeal to children and young people. Just to be absolutely clear, Llywydd, e-cigarettes should never be used by children, young people, or anyone who is a non-smoker. However, we recognise that, for some people, e-cigarettes and other nicotine products are useful tools to help them stop smoking, with current evidence suggesting that they're substantially less harmful than smoking tobacco. In the 2018-19 national survey for Wales, which is the most recent survey where people were asked why they used e-cigarettes, 76 per cent of current e-cigarette users stated their reason for using e-cigarettes was to help them quit smoking tobacco products. We very much need to investigate and balance these factors before coming to a decision on what action to take on the littering of e-cigarettes. So, for this reason, I'm unable to support amendments 6, 8, 9 or 10. 

Turning to amendment 7, which seeks to add disposable e-cigarettes to the list of products appearing in section 4, which relates to the requirement to consider and then report on the potential banning of disposable e-cigarettes, while I agree in principle at looking at e-cigarettes further, I cannot accept this amendment at this time, as the Member has not defined 'disposable'. Further consideration of these products' current use and the type of products marketed as 'disposable' would be required. We do need to be clear about which products we're actually looking at. I therefore cannot support amendment 7, although, of course, the absence of a specific reference to e-cigarettes in section 4 will not preclude us from considering whether certain single-use plastic types of e-cigarettes should be banned, nor from reporting to the Senedd on that consideration, as we will do with other products in respect of which we're considering taking action in the future. I will certainly be asking my policy officials to work with their colleagues in health to begin the work needed, as we consider this matter from both a health and an environmental perspective. Diolch.