Local MP Alex Cunningham’s campaign to ban smoking in cars with children present is expected to fail to get its Second reading on Friday as the Government has refused to give it the necessary parliamentary time.
But the fight to bring in the ban goes on with Tory Peer, Lord Ribeiro’s pledge to sponsor the Bill in the House of Lords.
The second reading of Smoking Bill is due to take place tomorrow in Parliament, though it is expected that the Bill, 54th on the list, will fail to get a reading. Alex had asked both the Prime Minister and Leader of the House to back the Bill designed to protect children but both declined.
Alex said:
“The baton has now passed to the House of Lords to promote the legislation for a ban on smoking in cars where there are children present.”
“Although it is disappointing that the milestone of getting a second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons will not now be reached, I am delighted that Lord Ribeiro will pick up the Bill and work to push it through the Lords.”
“With 300,000 children every year seeing their GP with smoking related illnesses, it is critical that this Bill is brought into law and the health of the nation’s children is put ahead of the rights of smokers.”
