MPs approve ban on smoking in cars with children

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/11/ban-smoking-cars-children

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Smoking in cars with children present will be outlawed in England from 1 October, after MPs voted in favour of the measure.

The vote passed by 342 to 74. Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, said it was a “significant victory for protecting children’s health from second-hand smoke”.

Prof Kevin Fenton, the national director for health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said: “Many parents aren’t aware that over 80% of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless. A completely smokefree home and car is a strong and positive step towards protecting the health of our children.”

Dr Penny Woods, the chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “This is a tremendous victory for the half a million children being exposed to second-hand smoke in the family car every week in England.

“We urge the government to show the same commitment to introduce standardised packaging for all tobacco products, in order to protect the 200,000 children taking up smoking every year in this country. We are certain that these measures together will prove to be two of the most significant milestones for public health since the smoke-free legislation of 2007.”

The charity previously said it estimated that 430,000 children a week were exposed to second-hand smoke in their family car.