Chamber
Plenary, 18 May 2006
18 May 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Reduced Ignition Potential Cigarettes
I thank Stewart Maxwell for securing the debate tonight. I will speak from my experience as a general practitioner and as the daughter of parents who smoked.
As my father became frailer, the number of fires that he nearly started was beyond count. I used to be terrified to leave him alone in his flat in case he set fire to himself and other people, but one cannot always watch an elderly person.
I was delighted to hear that RIP cigarettes look and taste exactly the same as standard ones. Had I known they existed at the time, I would have tried to persuade my father to smoke them and might have been able to sleep in my bed at night. I do not know why we never had to call out the fire brigade. He very nearly set fire to his mattress and almost set fire to a chair in my house when I was not present. Although I found the evidence afterwards, he claimed that he did not do it.
Cigarette smoking is addictive. When my father was younger and fitter, he would become desperate for a cigarette while driving a car. He would roll down the window to let out the smoke, but the dottle, or fiery ash, would blow off and land between his legs. We had so many smoking-related experiences such as that that it was amazing I was not involved in a house fire and that he did not lose his life.
I have visited many establishments and houses. Surrounding the chairs in which frail and elderly people sit, one finds that the carpet or linoleum is patterned with cigarette burns. Their clothes are also damaged here and there by cigarette burns. I cannot believe that the statistics on the number of deaths caused by fires that are started by cigarettes are so low—it is a miracle.
I fully back Stewart Maxwell's motion because, as well as damaging health, smoking a cigarette can cause death by fire. Frail, elderly and ill people fall asleep in their chairs with a cigarette in their hand that falls and burns them or sets fire to the house and kills them. According to the statistics, many of those deaths—probably about 50 per cent of them—are associated with alcohol, because alcohol and cigarettes often go together.
I would back all the way any legislation that would make it compulsory to substitute RIP cigarettes for standard ones. Such a move would add to the ban on smoking in public places and would be wonderful.
As my father became frailer, the number of fires that he nearly started was beyond count. I used to be terrified to leave him alone in his flat in case he set fire to himself and other people, but one cannot always watch an elderly person.
I was delighted to hear that RIP cigarettes look and taste exactly the same as standard ones. Had I known they existed at the time, I would have tried to persuade my father to smoke them and might have been able to sleep in my bed at night. I do not know why we never had to call out the fire brigade. He very nearly set fire to his mattress and almost set fire to a chair in my house when I was not present. Although I found the evidence afterwards, he claimed that he did not do it.
Cigarette smoking is addictive. When my father was younger and fitter, he would become desperate for a cigarette while driving a car. He would roll down the window to let out the smoke, but the dottle, or fiery ash, would blow off and land between his legs. We had so many smoking-related experiences such as that that it was amazing I was not involved in a house fire and that he did not lose his life.
I have visited many establishments and houses. Surrounding the chairs in which frail and elderly people sit, one finds that the carpet or linoleum is patterned with cigarette burns. Their clothes are also damaged here and there by cigarette burns. I cannot believe that the statistics on the number of deaths caused by fires that are started by cigarettes are so low—it is a miracle.
I fully back Stewart Maxwell's motion because, as well as damaging health, smoking a cigarette can cause death by fire. Frail, elderly and ill people fall asleep in their chairs with a cigarette in their hand that falls and burns them or sets fire to the house and kills them. According to the statistics, many of those deaths—probably about 50 per cent of them—are associated with alcohol, because alcohol and cigarettes often go together.
I would back all the way any legislation that would make it compulsory to substitute RIP cigarettes for standard ones. Such a move would add to the ban on smoking in public places and would be wonderful.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-4091, in the name of Stewart Maxwell, on reduced ignition potential cigarettes. The de...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament acknowledges that deaths resulting from fires, of which there were 99 in 2004, are a major concern in Scotland; recognises that they are ...
Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
In 2004, some 7,420 fires occurred in homes in Scotland. Those fires resulted in 1,858 non-fatal casualties and 76 fatalities. Of the 76 deaths, 30 were caus...
Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind):
Ind
I thank Stewart Maxwell for securing the debate tonight. I will speak from my experience as a general practitioner and as the daughter of parents who smoked....
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Ind):
Ind
Stewart Maxwell's motion is interesting and seems well intentioned. Although no one wishes to do anything that would increase the dangers of cigarette smokin...
Mr Maxwell:
SNP
Will the member give way?
Mr Monteith:
Ind
No—I must carry on.I am not convinced that such cigarettes will be acceptable to the public. As I said, I do not smoke cigarettes; however, I have spoken to ...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
It gives me much pleasure to lock horns once again with Brian Monteith on the subject of smoking. I suspect that, as in the past, we will remain implacable o...
The Deputy Minister for Justice (Hugh Henry):
Lab
Stewart Maxwell has secured a useful debate on an important and significant issue. It is right to draw attention to the fact that the number of fire-related ...
Mr Monteith:
Ind
I am not sure whether I heard the minister correctly. He seemed to be ascribing all the deaths to passive smoking. I am sure that he meant that they were att...
Hugh Henry:
Lab
I referred to 1,000 deaths a year arguably being associated with passive smoking.I acknowledge that there are huge cultural issues to be addressed. Jean Turn...
Mr Maxwell:
SNP
I accept that all factors must be taken into account and that we must be careful to ensure that the laws that we introduce do not interfere, but from all the...
Hugh Henry:
Lab
That would have to be factored into any debate. I raised the point and although I am not sure that the arguments are as conclusive as that, I am not saying t...
Mr Monteith:
Ind
I welcome the minister's balanced approach to the subject, although I recognise that we come from entirely different points of view. His point is well made. ...
Hugh Henry:
Lab
Any move in such a direction needs to be carefully considered. We must reflect on all the relevant factors and, where possible, avoid the unintended conseque...
Meeting closed at 17:34.