Health Bill

My Lords, I do not have the facts on that, but I am prepared to look at them and come back to the noble Lord. However, I will probably leave it for the Minister to answer, as I have learnt from the noble Baroness, Lady O’Cathain, that that is the best approach. There is another positive aspect to this legislation. Critics have pointed out that the main smoking problem may be in the home. Maybe this is what the noble Lord, Lord Naseby, is relating. Clearly we cannot legislate at the moment for that, however much we hope to do so. However, passive smoking is a danger to vulnerable adults and to children, especially children with health problems. As patron and trustee of Little Hearts Matter, a charity which works with families of children with single-ventricle heart problems, I am particularly aware of this. There is a myth that this Bill would increase smoking at home, but in fact the opposite would be likely, as it encourages smokers to quit. I understood that cigarette sales in Ireland had, in fact, fallen by 16 per cent. But again I look to the Minister for verification of that fact. Moreover, such a law increases public understanding of the risks of second-hand smoke. It raises a debate and therefore discourages smoking around children. Finally, it helps to prevent seeing smoking as a normal, even desirable, adult activity. I am so glad that so many of your Lordships have given up—maybe that is a good example, too. It is a real incentive to prevent young people smoking, which is a major problem in society. That is why I welcome the Government’s plans to consult on raising the age for sales of tobacco to young people to 18. We also need to look at the problem of glamorising smoking. Television and theatre glamorise smoking and, when I mentioned it before, the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, accused me of not getting out enough. On reflection, and with my workload, I thought she might be right. But there is a real issue about how smoking is portrayed, particularly to the young. Other noble Lords raised the issue of smoking in residential homes, secure units, prisons and other long-stay settings. The problem might have been addressed had the London and Liverpool Bills gone to Committee. The Joint Committee on Human Rights has argued that smoking should not be completely banned from such establishments where people live ““akin to their own abode””. But where staff provide care, or where domiciliary workers visit people who smoke in their homes, much more thought is needed about the balance of protection and service delivery. What consideration is being given to the issue? The ALG and SmokeFree London encourage a blanket ban and I have heard that some unions have concerns for staff. I declare an interest as president and trustee of John Grooms, a charity providing residential care for severely disabled adults. I know that the sector is looking for a framework in which this clash of interests can be addressed. Perhaps I may mention three colleagues whose voices would have been heard could they have been here today. My noble friend Lady Finlay of Llandaff, president of Ash in Wales, asked that I remind noble Lords of the work she has done in introducing the Smoking in Public Places (Wales) Bill. She would have wished to contribute from her wealth of knowledge of the issue had it not been St David’s Day—she is required to be in the land of the Bards. She would have spoken from her knowledge and about the increased risk of developing lung cancer and heart disease in those exposed to secondary smoke. Another supporter would have been Lord Stratford, Tony Banks, who made his maiden speech on this issue, and whose loss continues to be felt in this House. And, of course, my colleague Lord Chan, who spoke in favour of the London Bill. I think both would have raised their voices in this debate. The other place has set us a good example by a massive majority. It is time for England to come into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in protecting our workforce. Many bitterly resent the potentially fatal damage to their health from working in a smoke-filled environment. This is an opportunity for legislation to do real good. I hope your Lordships will give it the measure of support it so richly deserves.