07/02/2014

Doctors And Health Experts Urge MPs To Support Car Smoking Ban

MPs are to vote on Monday the issue about a ban on smoking in cars with children present.

More than 700 doctors and other health experts, including nurses and surgeons working across the NHS, have put their names to a letter urging MPs to back the prohibition.

In the British Medical Journal, the signatories say the move is needed "to protect the well-being of the children now and in the future". It explained that second-hand smoke exposure is a "major cause of ill-health in children".

However, Simon Clark, director of smoker's lobby group Forest said that is "inconsiderate" smoking in cars with children, but he added that "there is a line the state should not cross when it comes to dictating how people behave in private places". Mr Clark urged MPs "to reject this unnecessary intrusion into people's private lives".

The MPs vote comes after House of Lords backed last week a Labour amendment to the Children and Families Bill.

(CVS/CD)

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