Derbyshire: Government launches smoking consultation today

File photo dated 25/06/07 of a cigarette being smoked, as one in every 20 hospital beds is occupied by someone with a smoking-related illness. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday August 16, 2012. Every day 1,260 adults aged 35 and over are admitted to hospital due to smoking, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) said. See PA story HEALTH Smoking. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

It has today (Wednesday, July 16) published ‘Smoking in private vehicles carrying children – consultation on proposed regulations to be made under the Children and Families Act 2014.’

Under the proposed regulations, existing smoke–free legislation as set out in the Health Act 2006 will be extended so it would be an offence to smoke or to fail to prevent smoking in a private vehicle with someone under the age of 18 present.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (EIEH) is backing the proposals.

Principle policy officer, Ian Gray, said: “Polls have shown that the vast majority of people already understand that the confined enclosed space of a motor vehicle is one of the worst places to smoke and the last place that you would want your children to be exposed to other people’s smoking. It can be anticipated therefore that the adoption of this law will act as a further deterrent and that the need for enforcement action will be limited.”

The consultation will run until August 27.

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