Smoking Ban in Cars Carrying Children to be Brought In

The government is to make it a criminal offence to smoke in cars when children are present as passengers after a House of Commons vote by 376 to 107. The law will be brought in force throughout England before the next election, due in 2015. The Welsh government must now decide if the want the same throughout Wales.

The vote – passed by 376 votes to 107 – gave ministers in England and Wales the power to bring in a ban – but does not compel them to do so.

Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “The introduction of a law that would help prevent hundreds of thousands of children from being exposed to second-hand smoke in the car is now within reach.

“With both Houses of Parliament having made their support for the ban clear, the onus is now on the Government to act accordingly and make this crucial child protection measure law at the earliest opportunity.”

Jane Ellison, the health minister, told the Commons: “In the event that legislation is to be brought in to stop smoking in cars carrying children, we should not measure success by the number of enforcement actions.

“We should measure success by the reduction in exposure to second-hand smoke.

“The Government will listen very carefully to what Parliament has to say on the important principle as to whether the Government should have the power to legislate to prevent smoking in cars when children are present.”

After the Commons vote, a Welsh government spokesperson said: “We have consistently stated that we will consider the possibility of legislation once we have fully evaluated the impact of the campaign.

“We have commissioned studies of children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in cars and results will be available later this year.”

In Scotland it has been indicated that a bill will be presented, this year, to bring in a ban. Whilst in Northern Ireland a plan for a consultation has been announced.