Ban on smoking in vehicles in front of youngsters moves closer following Lords vote

The prime minister would like to ‘listen to the arguments’ on banning smoking in cars with youngsters, No ten said. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

A ban on smoking in vehicles in front of youngsters has moved a phase closer right after the Home of Lords voted to bring in new laws and Downing Street explained the prime minister was ready to “listen to the arguments”.

The thought will now be debated by MPs, who will be given a totally free vote on the situation – providing it a actual possibility of making it into legislation. It comes following Labour proposed an amendment to the youngsters and households bill that would give ministers a electrical power to carry in laws that would make it an offence for a driver to “fail to stop smoking in the motor vehicle when a kid or children are present”.

Sources said the prime minister was open-minded about the concern, as peers defeated the government by a slim margin of 25. It is the 89th time Labour and crossbench peers have inflicted a defeat on the coalition.

Asked what the prime minister thought of smoking in automobiles with young children, his spokesman mentioned: “This is an concern that is going to be discussed and debated in parliament right now, and the prime minister’s view is that he would like to listen to the arguments.”

In the morning, the Division of Health said it did not consider legislation was the most efficient way of stopping grownups smoking in front of children in autos. This was reiterated in the Lords by Earl Howe, a health minister, who said it would be complex to police and the government preferred “behaviour adjust”.

“Smoking in autos and in the property is most likely to be a consequence of a lack of understanding about the dangers of 2nd-hand smoke,” he mentioned, adding that the government was “spreading awareness”.

However, he also explained the government had not ruled out legislation and would take into account a overview of the evidence if the publicity campaign failed to have an impact. In closing remarks, Howe said: “We all want to eradicate smoking in automobiles carrying youngsters.”

The baffled position echoes Cameron’s selection to back plain packaging for cigarettes, ahead of dropping the policy, and then saying it would be adopted if there was proof it would be successful.

Andy Burnham, the shadow overall health secretary, said Britain need to comply with the instance set by Australia, Canada and some US states. Underneath Labour’s programs, it would be an offence to expose kids to tobacco smoke in cars and a breach would carry a £60 fine.

“When it comes to improving the well being of kids, we are duty bound to think about any measure that might make a variation,” he advised Sky News.

“Adults are totally free to make their own options but that usually does not apply to kids and which is why society has an obligation to defend them from preventable harm.

“Evidence from other nations displays that stopping smoking in the confined area of a vehicle carrying kids can avoid damage to their wellness and has strong public help.”

Smoking in workplaces and enclosed public spaces has been banned considering that 2007.

Nonetheless, Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ rights group Forest, told BBC Radio Four’s These days programme that the ban would be a slippery slope in the direction of a ban on all smoking in automobiles.

“I consider this legislation is extremely heavy-handed, entirely needless and, according to surveys, 84% of grownups wouldn’t dream of lighting a cigarette in a auto, in a modest enclosed area, with a little one current,” he explained.

“So grownups currently know how to behave. They will not need the state interfering in their lives like this. If there are nevertheless some folks who smoke in a vehicle with youngsters, then let us educate them, but let’s not legislate.”

Ban on smoking in vehicles in front of youngsters moves closer following Lords vote