Health Bill

I do not intend to rise to the bait and go over the scientific evidence again. If the noble Lord still has intellectual curiosity on this, he can read the volumes of Hansard in which we set out our position very clearly indeed. I repeat to the noble Lord, Lord Stoddart, that we believe—and the experience in other parts of the world suggests that this is true—that smoke-free legislation is popular and compliance is high. The noble Lord seems to be starting from the fundamentally different position that we need armies of enforcement officers to ensure that the public comply. We believe that the legislation itself will have an impact, that most people are law-abiding and that there will be a high degree of compliance. The experience in other countries supports that view. There is a range of law relating to vehicles that has to be enforced by a variety of people. Again, we think that there is likely to be a high level of compliance. We expect that local authorities will work in association with other authorities to enforce legislation relating to vehicles and will react to complaints. To clarify the position on the Health and Safety Executive, I said that, while not being an enforcement authority, it would, from its own contacts with employers, be able to pass on information to local authorities as enforcement officers, and it has said that it will do so. I am not sure that, if I stood here for another hour, I would convince the noble Lord, Lord Stoddart, on this issue; we have a difference of view on it. I have set out the Government’s position. I am not sure that I can do anything further to help the noble Lord or the Committee on the issue.