Health Bill

Certainly not. Some Labour Members may not be able to speak because of all the interventions that have already been taken, and I am not going to take any more interventions. An important issue relating to part 1 has not yet been raised. I refer to the possibility of raising the age of sale of tobacco from 16 to 18 to bring it in line with alcohol and other age-restricted products. That is a glaring omission from the Bill. I have tabled two early-day motions on the issue, and on 18 October I presented the Age of Sale of Tobacco Bill under the ten-minute rule. Its aim is to raise the age of sale of tobacco and tobacco products to 18. I am delighted to say that the Government have made good progress in adopting a more consistent approach to age-restricted products in recent years. Under the Gambling Act 2005 the use of many gaming machines will be restricted to those over 18, and through the Violent Crime Reduction Bill the Government intend to raise the age of sale of airguns and dangerous knives from 17 to 18. The Government must now extend that important policy to tobacco sales, a move that enjoys popular support. In a recent survey carried out by the BBC, 80 per cent. of the public—particularly those aged between 18 and 24—expressed support for it. We should bear in mind that 80 per cent. of smokers start smoking as teenagers. Moreover, the proposal is supported by the Trading Standards Institute, the body responsible for enforcing the laws relating to age-restricted sales. In a recent press release, the TSI said"““We believe that raising the age limit to 18, combined with stronger penalties against shopkeepers who repeatedly make underage sales, would make it more difficult for young people to regularly get their hands on cigarettes.””"