Meeting of the Parliament 17 December 2015
It gives me great pleasure that the bill crosses party lines. We have a mutual goal of protecting children’s health in Scotland, which does the Parliament proud.
As I have said repeatedly, the bill’s goal is to protect children and young people under the age of 18 from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. I am happy that the hard work that has been put in by everyone involved has resulted in a good, strong, cohesive and effective bill, which I hope and believe will be passed at decision time.
During its passage through Parliament, the bill was strengthened at stage 2 and given unanimous support. We are now faced with the decision of whether to take the last step of passing the bill, which will see at least 60,000 children a week in Scotland benefiting from better health. Detailed scrutiny of the bill and input from the 160 responses to my consultation, from the many organisations and individuals mentioned and from parliamentary committees have, at this final stage, brought to fruition a bill that will do what it was intended to do: protect the vulnerable from the toxic fumes of second-hand smoke in a very enclosed space.
I again thank all members on the committees involved for their constructive work, and I thank the ministerial team, fellow members and the numerous charities, organisations and academics who were involved. I also thank my own office—team Hume—past and present. It is good to see someone from the past—Craig Moran—in the public gallery.
There is one other person whom I would like to thank: a woman who was selfless throughout her life, gave rather than took, inspired me and drove me on to make a difference in my community. She was a non-smoker who died 5 years and one week ago from lung cancer, which doubtless was brought on by inhaling second-hand smoke: my mother, Joyce Hume. I dedicate this bill to her.
The consultation gathered wide and positive support. Its responses shaped the bill and it is a credit to the Parliament that we have the system that we do. Despite differing views on aspects of the legislation, we have a bill that is the next logical step in protecting the health of children. I believe that it will do that.
By developing policies on smoking, we are closing loopholes in legislation that are hazardous to children. As members pointed out, cutting down people’s exposure to smoking from an early age results in significant benefits. Research shows that children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to become smokers themselves. The Minister for Public Health emphasised that point in the Government’s take it right outside campaign, which she mentioned.
Campaigns have not been enough to protect the 60,000 children who every week are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars. In its report, the Health and Sport Committee says:
“education campaigns alone have not succeeded in protecting children from exposure to second-hand smoke in vehicles, and as such these further measures are needed.”
Change in behaviour is vital. Reducing children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in vehicles can not only have immediate benefits in protecting children’s respiratory systems but reduce the likelihood that they will develop conditions in future. We have the chance to shape a number of preventative measures that will free up NHS resources in the future, give children a better chance to get a healthier start in life and save millions of pounds and lives for generations to come. The bill is as much about the short-term benefits as it is about ensuring long-term benefits and the prevention of serious diseases such as lung cancer.
It was a famous inventor, Thomas Edison, who recognised that about a hundred years ago. He stated:
“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
The bill is in the interest of patients, cares for the human frame and goes a long way towards disease prevention. The future that Edison talked about is now. To truly protect children and their health, we must start preventing diseases and removing their catalysts.
I have had close and constructive contact with the Scottish Government and I hope that continues into the future as the bill is enacted and its provisions are put in place. It is appropriate that legislation that is designed to protect children must not be burdensome, confusing or hard to explain to anyone. That is why I am glad that, at this final stage, the bill stands as a clear and simple message to all. It also provides clarity for the police officers and environmental officers who will enforce the bill’s provisions.
To that end, I am encouraged that Scottish ministers will undertake a campaign on commencement of the bill’s provisions under section 5. I welcome the fact that a high-profile information and awareness campaign will accompany this important new law. We want people to realise and understand the detriments to children’s health from second-hand smoke and to recognise that opening the window makes little difference and can, in fact, worsen the intensity of smoke in the rear seats.
The campaign could add to the bill’s benefits, because it could provide positive spillovers and more opportunities for a wider part of the population who might not have children at the moment but might alter their behaviour when they give their friends a lift to work.
The provisions in the bill can be clearly understood and enforced. They will be effective in encouraging a cultural shift towards healthier habits and a better understanding of the dangers of second-hand smoke, even when it cannot be seen. The bill will also have a positive impact on improving the health of future generations to come.
That is why voting for the bill is in the interests of parents, children and their future children, in that it will remove one more harmful factor from our lifestyles. The bill has had the backing of the British Medical Association, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, the British Lung Foundation and many more; a long list of supporters and health professionals, who are the people who know.
It sets the Parliament in good standing to be one of the pioneering Parliaments in Europe to adopt such legislation. The British Heart Foundation recognises the bill as
“the first … to introduce the debate about regulating smoking in vehicles in any UK Parliament”.
The BHF goes on to say that the bill has sparked “great media debate” and that its progress
“has led to a ban in England and Wales”.
We can be proud that the Scottish Parliament has again led the way in protecting the vulnerable. It will give children in Scotland a better start in life, knowing that this aspect of their health is legally protected in such an enclosed space.
I conclude by again thanking those who were involved for their co-operative approach. We have a bill that can help to ensure that 60,000 children every week in Scotland get the healthy start to life that they deserve. I look forward to support from across the chamber today at decision time.