Parliament to vote on Steve’s plan to ban smoking in cars carrying children

The House of Lords have backed a proposal to ban smoking in cars carrying children that was originally introduced by Steve Reed MP.  It will come back to the House of Commons for a final vote next month where it will have the support of Labour MPs.  If enough Tory and Lib Dem MPs also back the measure it will become law.

Croydon North MP Steve Reed introduced an amendment into the Children and Families Bill last April with the support of the Royal College of Paediatrics, Asthma UK and the British Heart Foundation.  Research shows that 160,000 children a year develop avoidable lung disease, asthma and bronchitis after being forced to breathe in smoke exhaled by adults in cars.  In many cases the damage is irreversible as developing lungs are more susceptible to disease than adults’.

Speaking after the Lords’ vote Steve Reed MP said: “This measure is about protecting children’s health.  Children are often powerless to stop adults smoking in cars, so we need the law to step in to protect them.  I’ve spoken to dozens of children who tell me they have to breathe in adults’ cigarette smoke in cars.  They find it revolting but they don’t realise it’s harming their health.  We need to change the culture so it’s completely unacceptable for adults to smoke in cars when children are present, but as with wearing seat-belts that needs to be backed up by law.  I hope Tory and Lib Dem MPs will join Labour to vote for this measure next month.”