General Chat

MPs can ‘strike a blow for children’s health’

A leading Birmingham councillor has urged MPs to ‘strike a blow for children’s health’ by backing a ban on smoking in cars carrying children.

The issue will be debated in Parliament later today and MPs will be given a free vote on an amendment to the children and families bill – proposed by Birmingham peer Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – that would make it an offence for a driver to ‘fail to prevent smoking in the vehicle when a child or children are present’.

As a family of none smokers this does not directly affect me., but whilst I think it is an extremely good idea, I wonder how can this be implemented?

You're a bit late with the news Paula, That was yesterday and motion calling for the ban was carried by a big majority. MPs voted by 376 votes to 107, majority 269, in favour of an amendment to the Children and Families Bill which gives the Health Secretary power to impose a ban.

It is not a bad idea and I say that as a smoker but I do wish that people would stop quoting ridiculous statistics to get their message across.

E.G. 160,000 children treated every year for smoking related ailments by the NHS at a cost of £23,000,000. Smoke fumes in a car are 11 times more concentrated than in open space. Neither proven.

i think if the police suspected this they would need to pull the car over and measure the amount of smoke in the car on a meter . I read that smoke can linger in a car for several hours so there would have to be a measurement for recent activity of smoking....

Just my opinion..

Jonsey Possibly, I was all over the place yesterday. I have only just seen the TV. Local MP Lord Hunt of Kings Heath. saying The issue will be debated in Parliament later today( I thought he meant today) and MPs will be given a free vote on an amendment to the children and families bill.

it's common sense, can't understand anyone smoking in a car carrying children - BUT they haven't managed to stop people using mobile phones yet - the fine for that should be much higher - not sure what it is at the moment, but it should be at least £100 and confiscation of the phone and points on the license

personally I like to have them shot :-D

i have seen policemen driving whist using a mobile phone..

I think the smoking ban should be implemented and a soon as possible.. :-)

I think it is a ridiculous idea and simply another way of " government" to get money from us, all the years people have smoked in their own cars and there's no proof that it has affected anyone.
Am I the only one who sees £ signs where eyes should be?
I am a non smoker by the way.

I got done outside Talbot Green last year for using mobile phone. £60, I think - and many others wsere caught in their sting - probably no one wants to admit it in case of violence by infuriated people.

My company soon after tightened up on mobile phone use so that you could not even take an emergency call hands free. I agree with them, and have never used a phone since.

Smoking in cars may be unhealthy - but it has got to be most dangerous thing you can do. In my smoking days, I dropped a lit cigarette in my lap at 70mph on a motorway. Can any poster suggest how smoking can be calming and acceptable whilst driving?

i think there is proof that passive smoking can cause cancer, and that is what is happening to children in the confined space of a car.

I can't see how the government would make money from this as to implement the rule could be quite costly...

Under English law people's personal rights and freedoms have never extended to actions likely to cause pain and suffering to others. Over time parliament has, quite rightly, extended this concept and also added duties such as the requirement to get yr children educated and vaccinated.

Smoking has been banned from public transport, schools, the workplace and shops, places of entertainment for the reason of passive smoking. Up until now children, utterly unable to choose or control their environment, have had to take their chances.

At last MPs are about to do something useful and grasp the nettle at least for travel by car. Cancer is a long term possibility for children subjected to a smoky environment - all manner of bronchial problems in early childhood are a dead cert.

The law concerning young children not in car seats / riding in front does not carry points. It should. So should the new law.

Now, what is to be done about the effects of smoking on young people at home ???

have you noticed that most laws passed are to STOP you doing something........not many give you the right to do a particular action.......

(not counting the ancient ones of permission to graze your sheep on a local village green..........)lol

Of course smoking should be banned in a car with children.

It stinks and so will they.

Although I am a smoker, I hated it as a child being forced to sit upstairs in a smoky bus for about an hour travelling to my grandparents.

My own children were subjected to smoke as they were brought up in a pub and it was difficult keeping them out of the bar area at times.

My father smoked and didn't give up until after I had left home. We had a car in 1947 when I was 6 but strangely I don't remember him smoking in the car. OH used to smoke when our children were young but don't remember him smoking in the car. Surely it is not necessary. When travelling back from the Lake District we stopped at motorway services and had our coffee from a flask. We saw a young woman roar into the car park, leap out, smoke half a cigarette, leap back in and roar off. She must have been desperate. Maybe it was a company car and no smoking allowed.

Used to hate it upstairs on the bus when people smoked. So much nicer now that it is banned on public transport. :-)

I don't suppose you forced your children to be in the bar with the smoke jax.

Now that children have to be tied down when they are in a car there is no escape for them.

i can remember when i was small and my parents were often in the pub, there was a little room where wives could have a drink and the children were allowed.. the thing i remember most was my eyes stinging and it wasn't until i was older i realized it was the thick smokey atmosphere...

i did go on to be a smoker for a lot of years, i suppose i was addicted to the smoke from my parents, but have been free from the habit for a long time now...

There were times when the youngest who was born there had to be in the bar as she couldn't be left on her own upstairs....not often.....but it happened

Luckerly she is now 17 and did not take up the habit ( she is very anti so unlikely to now) unlike her sister

i don't think people were as aware then of the dangers of smoking as they are now.

I can remember visiting my father in hospital when i was small and he had a little silver coloured ashtray on his bedside cabinet as did some of the other men... my mother had to get special permission for me to be allowed on the ward because i was under 12...lol

Smoking kills, Passive smoking kills. That is fact. That's all I want to say.

Paula... that is all that needs to be said.. :-)