Health Bill

My Lords, I think it was last week that an article was published in what we used to call a broadsheet about climate change and global warming, which was followed by an assessment by a television presenter who drives fast cars. He said that while there was still one expert who says climate change is not taking place, he would not believe it. I would love to know whether this gentleman has found an expert who says that smoking does you good. I have to declare an interest. My hospital records show that I have severe acute allergic brittle asthma. What does this mean? I can become very ill indeed—at worst, within 20 seconds—following inhalation of one or more of numerous chemicals. What has this to do with the Health Bill? There are many chemicals that lead me to being ill that cannot be quantified, nor indeed controlled, but I can become ill with one inhalation of certain types of tobacco smoke, with that from cigars being the worst. I am not alone in that respect. The noble Lord, Lord Naseby, talked about passive smoking. I will give him two examples. First, the noble Lord, Lord Brougham and Vaux, had to relieve me a couple of weeks ago when I became ill while chairing the Grand Committee because tobacco smoke came up a ventilation shaft. Secondly, I will have an asthma attack if I am driving up a motorway with my windows closed and someone else is smoking a cigar. It will not be a bad attack, but I will have to take some medication. All those who smoke have a perfect right to do so, but there are many people like me who should have the right to inhale smoke-free air. Exposure to second-hand smoke is the second most common asthma trigger in the workplace, and working where others smoke doubles your risk of developing asthma. Indeed, there are many non-smokers without any illness who would like to breathe clean air—like me. That includes employees in the hospitality industry, where one person so employed dies every week. To make matters worse, the BMA published research last year that showed second-hand smoke is likely to be responsible for the deaths of more than two employed people for each working day of the year. Everyone has a human right to work without being exposed to poisonous and life-threatening substances, and many people, including those with asthma, are currently excluded from many social environments because of the damaging effects of second-hand smoke. Comprehensive legislation benefits health. Smoke-free laws prevent ill health and second-hand smoke, and encourage smokers to quit, as has happened in Ireland. They motivate smokers to protect their families from second-hand smoke in the home. What would this country be doing if Sir Walter Raleigh had introduced cannabis, not tobacco, into this country all those years ago? Probably not very much. But, in general terms, cannabis does not affect other people, but tobacco does, and its smoke should be rigorously controlled. I welcome this Bill.