MPs have called on the outgoing government to come up with new legislation which will introduce a tax on e-cigarettes.

The government had been planning to wait until the introduction of Europe-wide legislation but given that is unlikely to happen before 2026, ministers agreed to take unilateral measures, if that is what MPs wanted.

MPs voted in favour of a D66 motion to introduce a tax on e-cigarettes and vapes on Thursday evening, giving the caretaker cabinet the green light to go ahead.

Research by the Trimbos addiction institute shows that one in five youngsters under the age of 25 uses a vape, and 70% of them also smoke tobacco cigarettes.

The 18 age limit for using vapes is also widely flouted and internet sales have flourished, the Telegraaf said earlier this month.

Vaping is much cheaper than smoking cigarettes, which now cost around €11 per pack. By contrast, an electronic cigarette with the equivalent of two packets of cigarettes in terms of nicotine costs around €6.