Health Bill [HL]

It might help if I went into slightly more detail. As the Bill is drafted, a retailer may display tobacco products to individuals aged 18 or over without committing an offence, provided that the individual has requested that display. The term "requested display" has a specific meaning defined in new Section 7B(8) as a display to an individual following their request either to purchase a tobacco product or for information about such a product. It is only sensible, therefore, as it allows a customer, as is perfectly reasonable, as we have discussed, to handle the product before deciding whether to purchase it. My point was that the amendment would remove the need for an adult to ask to see the product. The Bill effectively enables retailers to sell tobacco in a practical manner. That is our intention. Furthermore, under new Section 7C, we would allow a full price and availability list to be displayed, including what products the retailer carried, allowing the customer to be fully informed. Section 7B(3) provides regulation-making powers for the appropriate Minister in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to make further exemptions to the prohibition on display. We could use that power to exempt particular businesses if, for example, we were satisfied that they could never be entered by someone under 18. As we have discussed, I understand that specialist tobacconists may fall into that category. I hope that that may help the noble Earl.