Meeting of the Parliament 17 December 2015
That issue was not consulted on at all. We concentrated absolutely on smoking in motor vehicles, and that is what we consulted on. It might be interesting to explore the issue that the member raised, in the next parliamentary session.
As the minister and others said at stage 1, almost 10 years after the ban on smoking in public places it is difficult to imagine people smoking in workplaces and restaurants. Christian Allard said in the stage 1 debate that he thought that, in years to come, people would be shocked to know that it had ever been possible to smoke in a vehicle when children were present.
I thank the many people who were involved for their collaborative approach and I look forward to hearing members’ speeches. This is a popular bill, which was supported by nearly all the respondents to the Health and Sport Committee’s call for evidence. As many members said, 85 per cent of Scottish adults, including 72 per cent of smokers, support the bill.
The bill shows how the Scottish Parliament has led the way for the whole United Kingdom in the debate on protecting children from second-hand smoke in cars. Today we have the chance to make a law that will save the national health service purse millions of pounds and, more important, enable many people to lead healthier lives. Thanks to everyone who supports the bill, we look forward to a healthier future—lives without asthma, lung infections, sudden infant death syndrome and the ravages of lung cancer.
Every week in Scotland alone, 60,000 children—about the number of people in a single Scottish Parliament constituency—are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars and to about 50 toxins and carcinogens. That is 60,000 children who have no option but to be driven in a smoke-filled car to visit relatives, to get to school or—this is ironic—to attend a sports event. By supporting the bill, we can help those 60,000 children to have a healthier start in life.
Our job as members of the Scottish Parliament is to make a difference. Today we can make a real difference, and I hope that the bill will receive support from members of all parties at decision time today.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees that the Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Bill be passed.
15:08