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| Smoking in cars carrying children set to become illegal in England next year | Smoking in cars carrying children set to become illegal in England next year |
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| Smoking in cars carrying children is set to become illegal in England late next year in the biggest crackdown on lighting up since the ban on smoking in public places in 2007. | Smoking in cars carrying children is set to become illegal in England late next year in the biggest crackdown on lighting up since the ban on smoking in public places in 2007. |
| On Wednesday the government will lay the regulations in parliament needed to pave the way for the new restriction on smoking, which is likely to come into force on 1 October 2015. | On Wednesday the government will lay the regulations in parliament needed to pave the way for the new restriction on smoking, which is likely to come into force on 1 October 2015. |
| The ban is subject to a vote by both MPs and peers early in the new year. They will have three weeks to scrutinise the Department of Health’s (DH) proposals, but that looks unlikely to prove a major obstacle as MPs approved the measure by a resounding majority earlier this year. | The ban is subject to a vote by both MPs and peers early in the new year. They will have three weeks to scrutinise the Department of Health’s (DH) proposals, but that looks unlikely to prove a major obstacle as MPs approved the measure by a resounding majority earlier this year. |
| David Cameron is among those who support the ban. In February his official spokesman said he believed that “the time has come” to introduce the new offence to protect children and young people from the effects of secondhand smoke. | David Cameron is among those who support the ban. In February his official spokesman said he believed that “the time has come” to introduce the new offence to protect children and young people from the effects of secondhand smoke. |
| Only a visit to inspect flood damage in Somerset prevented Cameron from attending the Commons so he could join the free vote in February on the ban. Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, and Michael Gove, the then education secretary, were among the senior figures to vote for it, who also included Jane Ellison, the public health minister. | Only a visit to inspect flood damage in Somerset prevented Cameron from attending the Commons so he could join the free vote in February on the ban. Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, and Michael Gove, the then education secretary, were among the senior figures to vote for it, who also included Jane Ellison, the public health minister. |
| The measure will criminalise smoking by parents, carers or other adults in a car carrying anyone under 18. According to the British Lung Foundation, an estimated 430,000 children are exposed to secondhand smoke every week in a family car. | The measure will criminalise smoking by parents, carers or other adults in a car carrying anyone under 18. According to the British Lung Foundation, an estimated 430,000 children are exposed to secondhand smoke every week in a family car. |
| Ellison will confirm the details in a written ministerial statement to MPs on Wednesday afternoon. | |
| The ban will be welcomed by health charities, medical groups and anti-smoking organisations, which have become concerned in recent months about the DH’s failure to bring forward regulations enacting something parliament had already endorsed. | The ban will be welcomed by health charities, medical groups and anti-smoking organisations, which have become concerned in recent months about the DH’s failure to bring forward regulations enacting something parliament had already endorsed. |
| England will become only the second country in Europe to prohibit smoking in cars carrying children. Cyprus already has such a ban. The Welsh government also plans to bring one in, though that will come after England’s. France is also considering a ban. | England will become only the second country in Europe to prohibit smoking in cars carrying children. Cyprus already has such a ban. The Welsh government also plans to bring one in, though that will come after England’s. France is also considering a ban. |
| Australia and South Africa have also outlawed smoking in such circumstances, as have 10 of Canada’s 13 provinces and at least four of the 50 states in the US. | Australia and South Africa have also outlawed smoking in such circumstances, as have 10 of Canada’s 13 provinces and at least four of the 50 states in the US. |
| In February MPs voted 376 to 107 – a majority of 269 – for the ban, which was proposed by Labour as an amendment to the children and families bill. That majority was larger than the one which led to a ban on smoking in public places, such as pubs, restaurants and nightclubs, from July 2007. | In February MPs voted 376 to 107 – a majority of 269 – for the ban, which was proposed by Labour as an amendment to the children and families bill. That majority was larger than the one which led to a ban on smoking in public places, such as pubs, restaurants and nightclubs, from July 2007. |
| The public appears to back the ban. In March, a YouGov poll for the anti-smoking group ASH found that 77% of adults, including 64% of those who smoke, supported the criminalisation of smoking in cars carrying anyone under 18. | |
| The DH will also launch a public consultation on whether it should become illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s or for anyone else to buy vapourisers for them to use. | The DH will also launch a public consultation on whether it should become illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s or for anyone else to buy vapourisers for them to use. |
| Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said:“Children are particularly susceptible to the dangers of the toxic fumes released by smoking due to their smaller lungs, faster breathing and less-developed immune systems. This move could prove to be one of the most significant milestones for public health in the UK since the smoke-free legislation of 2007.” | |
| The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, said adults should not smoke in children’s presence. | |
| “The BMA strongly supports a ban on smoking in cars when children are present, as it is an important step in reducing tobacco harm by restricting the prevalence of second hand smoke in private vehicles,” said Prof Sheila Hollins, chair of the association’s board of science. | |
| “Children are still developing physically and biologically and compared to adults they breathe more rapidly, absorb more pollutants and have less developed immune systems. As a result, they are more susceptible to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and are less likely to be able to choose to move away from it.” | |
| Hollins added: “Adults who smoke in the presence of children are not acting in the children’s best interest; therefore it is encouraging that the government has brought forward these regulations in order to protect them.” |