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MSP Jim Hume launches child car smoking ban bill | MSP Jim Hume launches child car smoking ban bill |
(35 minutes later) | |
A South of Scotland MSP has formally launched a bill at Holyrood to prevent smoking in cars with children in them. | |
Lib Dem Jim Hume says it would give youngsters the "healthiest start in life". | Lib Dem Jim Hume says it would give youngsters the "healthiest start in life". |
He lodged draft proposals for a bill in May last year calling for a ban in Scotland on smoking in private vehicles while a child under 18 is present. | |
Motorists could potentially be fined £100 for breaching the rule if it becomes law. | |
Mr Hume said: "Today my bill to stop smoking in cars whilst children are present is now formally laid at parliament. | |
"This means that the legislation could be in place before the next Scottish Parliament elections." | |
He said he was "delighted" that Scottish Labour had supported the move. | |
"A shocking 60,000 children each week are exposed to second-hand smoke in vehicles," he added. | |
"This bill is about guaranteeing that children in Scotland can have the freedom to go on and lead healthy lives if they choose to. " | |
A wide range of health organisations have backed his proposals. | |
Dr Peter Bennie, chairman of the British Medical Association Scotland, said: "Smoking in vehicles is a source of concentrated second hand smoke (SHS), and as children are still developing they are at particular risk. | |
"The evidence for extending smoke-free legislation is compelling and we would encourage the Scottish Parliament to support the introduction of a ban on smoking in vehicles with children present." | |
'Dangerous second-hand smoke' | 'Dangerous second-hand smoke' |
However, senior lecturer in sociology at Abertay University, Dr Stuart Waiton told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme he was opposed to the move. | |
He said: "I think there is a trend at the moment towards more regulation and more laws, especially around safety. | He said: "I think there is a trend at the moment towards more regulation and more laws, especially around safety. |
"As far as I can tell, politicians should really now be called risk managers because that seems to be what they spend most of their time doing, especially when it comes to child safety. | "As far as I can tell, politicians should really now be called risk managers because that seems to be what they spend most of their time doing, especially when it comes to child safety. |
"Politicians seem to think they have got carte blanche and they can just run with it. | "Politicians seem to think they have got carte blanche and they can just run with it. |
"On top of that, there's also a trend towards interfering in the family now. There's a worrying trend towards undermining the rights of parents and undermining people's privacy." | "On top of that, there's also a trend towards interfering in the family now. There's a worrying trend towards undermining the rights of parents and undermining people's privacy." |
However, in the same discussion, Ruaraidh Dobson from the British Lung Foundation disagreed: "I think this is a very sensible, very moderate measure, that's been shown to protect children from dangerous second-hand smoke. | However, in the same discussion, Ruaraidh Dobson from the British Lung Foundation disagreed: "I think this is a very sensible, very moderate measure, that's been shown to protect children from dangerous second-hand smoke. |
"We all know second-hand smoke is bad and is particularly dangerous for children: they've got smaller lungs and breathe faster than adults." | "We all know second-hand smoke is bad and is particularly dangerous for children: they've got smaller lungs and breathe faster than adults." |