Health Bill

I made it absolutely clear what the scientific base was for second-hand smoke, even when not visible, retaining noxious carcinogens in the atmosphere and the case for protecting other drivers of the vehicle. People may take a different view about the level of risk that is involved, as I anticipate the noble Earl, Lord Howe, saying. But our justification is that the noxious substances which contain carcinogens could still be in the vehicle at that point in time. We have to draw a line somewhere; the line we are drawing seeks to protect alternative users of that vehicle. As I have made clear in my remarks, if there is a single person using that vehicle who owns and drives that vehicle, their ability to subject themselves to that smoke is up to them. But it is worth bearing in mind, as I said at our previous sitting when the noble Lord, Lord Skidelsky, was not here, that 85 per cent of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless. We do not believe that other people should be put at risk in those circumstances.