Young people in Wales give their views on e-cigs, tattoos and piercings as part of Assembly committee survey

Published 23/09/2015   |   Last Updated 23/09/2015

 Young people in Wales have been telling the National Assembly's Health and Social Care Committee what they think about issues such as e-cigarettes, tattoos and body piercings.

The results are part of a survey for the Committee as it considers the Public Health (Wales) Bill.

Among the results is a belief among 11-17 year-old respondents that using e-cigarettes is a possible gateway to taking up smoking. In contrast, more than half of those surveyed who were 18 and older didn't believe that to be the case.

More than a quarter of young people surveyed said they had tried e-cigarettes, noting that their  main reason for doing so was to gain a "new experience".

David Rees AM, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said:

"The Committee values the views of young people in its work and is grateful to the hundreds of people, young and older, who took part in our survey about the Public Health Bill.

"Although not a scientific sample, the results do at least give an indication of people's opinions in Wales about this important piece of legislation.

"The survey results, along with the evidence we are gathering from experts, trade bodies, public agencies and health services, will help the Committee form its conclusions about the Bill."

The survey also asked for views on a proposal in the Public Health (Wales) Bill to create a compulsory licensing system for people who carry out procedures such as tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture and electrolysis. More than three quarters of those surveyed agreed with this idea.

More than three quarters of those surveyed also agreed with the introduction of a minimum age of 16 for people to have intimate piercings such as through the nipple or genitals.

766 people responded to the survey; of those 97 were aged between 11 and 17 years-old. The results represent the views of those who responded and not the general public as a whole. The statistical data does not reflect a representative sample of the public.

The Public Health (Wales) Bill, which also contains proposals relating to community pharmacies and the provision of public toilets, is currently at Stage 1 of the National Assembly's law-making process. Stage 1 is where a committee considers whether there is a need for a proposed law and whether or not the Bill will fulfill its objectives.

The Health and Social Care Committee will publish its Stage 1 report on 27 November 2015.

The Public Health (Wales) Bill was introduced by the Minister for Health and Social Services on 8 June 2015, and was referred to the Health and Social Care Committee for scrutiny.

More information about the Public Health (Wales) Bill and the Committee's scrutiny can be found online.

A guide to the Assembly's legislative process is also available.