Asked by
of Cumnock
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, and on what
timescale, to introduce legislation to extend the ban on smoking
in public places; and what additional measures such legislation
will contain.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
and Social Care () (Lab)
My Lords, the Government are soon to introduce the tobacco and
vapes Bill, which stands to be the most significant public health
intervention in a generation and will put us on track to become a
smoke-free UK. The Prime Minister fully supports measures that
will create a smoke-free environment, helping to reduce 80,000
preventable deaths, reduce the burden on the NHS and reduce the
burden on the taxpayer. We will set out more details very
soon.
of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)
I am really grateful to the Minister, but can she give a clear
indication as to when the legislation will be introduced, to
start to reduce these premature deaths? There is overwhelming
public support for a smoking ban in children's parks, in beer
gardens, on beaches and in front of hospitals. I have seen people
coming out of hospitals and lighting up, when their lungs and
heart are affected by that smoking. We need action as quickly as
possible. I exceptionally thank the Conservatives for setting
this in motion when they were in government.
Noble Lords
Oh!
(Lab)
I am sure that the whole House has noted and welcomes the last
point made by my noble friend. He has been a doughty campaigner
in this area over many decades, and I thank him for that. As I
will reiterate, more details and the introduction of the Bill
will come very soon—I will not say “in the summer” or “in due
course” but only “soon”. My noble friend is right to make his
observations about outdoor places, details of which will be
forthcoming. On the public's attitude, what he said certainly is
the case. It is interesting that polling published just last week
shows that almost six in 10 adults would support banning smoking
in pub gardens and outdoor restaurants. The truth is that public
opinion has shifted over the decades. It is important to work
with that, as well as to bear in mind that there is no good
impact of smoking, including passive smoking, which is why the
Prime Minister has indicated his support for the direction of
travel. More details will follow.
(Con)
My Lords—
(LD)
My Lords—
(Con)
My Lords—
(Lab Co-op)
My Lords, there is plenty of time. Let the noble Lord, , speak first, but everyone can
get in.
(Con)
My Lords, I thank the Government Chief Whip most sincerely. I
declare an interest as a member of the pipe and cigar smokers'
club, although I indulge in neither. When His Majesty's
Government come out with the details, will they make a full
assessment of the effect of such a ban on the hospitality
industry? It will have significant effects on employment, let
alone the enjoyment of those who indulge. Does the Minister not
agree that this is a case of the nanny state multiplied by an
indefinite number?
(Lab)
On the last point, I do not agree with the noble Lord that this
is the nanny state gone to a new level. It is about protecting
people's health, and in this Question, we are talking about
passive smoking in particular, where people do not have choices
in certain areas. On the point about hospitability, it is
important to note that, after implementing the indoor smoking ban
in 2007, 40% of businesses reported a positive impact on their
company. Let us not forget that Office for National Statistics
data showed that 69% of respondents visited pubs about the same
as before, and, interestingly, 17% visited them more. However, I
assure the noble Lord that we will work with the hospitality
sector should this be a direction that we specifically take. As
always, there will be an impact assessment, close working across
government and consultation with relevant stakeholders, as there
always is when we look at new legislation.
(LD)
My Lords, I urge the Government—it sounds like the door is
open—to resist the siren voices which so often have accompanied
efforts to protect the public from tobacco smoke, including the
theoretical risk to pubs, as we have just heard. It is a joy to
be in public places which are now smoke-free. Does the Minister
agree that, now that restaurants and pubs have pavement licences,
those areas too should, like the interiors, be smoke-free?
(Lab)
I am glad that the noble Baroness welcomes the direction of
travel. As regards the specifics that she seeks, those will be
forthcoming in the very near future. However, it is important to
remind ourselves that the tobacco industry, for example, was very
vociferous in its opposition to indoor smoke-free legislation and
argued that it would be disastrous for hospitality, but, as I
mentioned, it had almost no impact, and in some sectors it had a
positive impact. As my noble friend said earlier, the response of
the public, the way they approach this matter and their
understanding are also crucial.
(CB)
My Lords, the noble Lord, , tempted me to get up. In
wishing him a happy birthday, I suggest that his longevity might
not be related to his cigar and cigarette smoking. The statistics
are quite clear: smoking causes immense harm to those who indulge
in it, with not only 10,000 lung cancers a year but tens of
thousands of chronic lung diseases. It is right that we have a
policy that eliminates cigarette smoking altogether.
(Lab)
I am glad that the noble Lord welcomes the Bill, and I hope that
he will bring his expertise and support when it is before the
House. This will be a matter of great debate but also one of
consultation.
(Lab)
My Lords, if I set up a market stall with products guaranteed to
disable, maim or kill the consumer, I would not be allowed to
sell, irrespective of any economic gains. I would probably be
arrested and forced to bear the cost of restitution. Can the
Minister explain why tobacco companies are allowed to do the same
and do not bear the full cost of restitution?
(Lab)
I am sure my noble friend will be pleased to know that the
tobacco and vapes Bill will not just introduce a progressive
smoking ban, which I know the previous Government wished to do,
but will stop vapes and other consumer nicotine products such as
nicotine pouches being deliberately branded and advertised to
appeal to children. Together—this is important—the measures will
stop the next generation becoming hooked on nicotine, and this
will be the furthest step that we have taken so far. However, the
focus of the Bill is on what is legal to do, and that is one of
the many reasons that I refute the accusation of this being the
action of some kind of nanny state. It is not. It is about giving
people the environment and the support that they need to protect
their own health and create a healthy environment.
of Whitley Bay (Con)
My Lords, the Prime Minister promised us a Government who would
“tread more lightly” on our lives, but in this area, they seem to
have marched ahead in a rather heavy and flat-footed manner. Many
businesses in our hospitality industry, and indeed in our
cultural sector, such as live music venues, are still recovering
from the pandemic and its aftermath. During that pandemic and
indeed in the light of the 2007 ban, many of them invested, in
good faith, considerable sums in adapting their premises to be
suitable. As the noble Lord, , knows, when the last
reforming Government acted, they did so on the basis of evidence.
The Minister says that there will be an impact assessment and a
consultation. Why was that not done before these plans were
briefed to the press, and when will it be conducted?
(Lab)
I can tell the noble Lord that it was not briefed to the press.
It gives me the opportunity to tell your Lordships' House that it
was a leak and, as the noble Lord will remember, it is not usual
for Ministers to comment on leaks. I suggest that what we are
doing here is acting on evidence. Passive smoking has a negative
impact on people's lives—both the quality of their health and
their longevity. We have a responsibility in this Parliament and
this Government to look at measures to improve that. I hope that
the noble Lord will recall that it was his Government who started
this Bill, and we welcomed it.
