Health Bill [HL]

As the noble Lord, Lord Laird, mentioned me during his prolonged remarks, I should state exactly what happened. The noble Lord said: ""Why is it that the retailers of Northern Ireland support this ban? What is the difference?"—[Official Report, 5/3/09; col. GC 370]—" that is, the difference between Northern Ireland and England. I sought to reply to that and said: ""My father used to live in Northern Ireland; it is a great place with great people. I welcome the fact that they are of independent mind and that they will do things in their way rather than in our way".—[Official Report, 5/3/09; col. GC 375.]" In reports from other sources it would appear that retailers in Northern Ireland want to do it England’s way. So the strictures of the noble Lord, Lord Laird, against me are misplaced.