Wales could be the first European country to ban smoking in vehicles carrying children, First Minister Carwyn Jones has announced.
Mr Jones said legislation could be considered later in the current five-year Assembly term if children’s exposure to second-hand smoke did not reduce as a result of a mix of stop smoking interventions and campaigns.
He said a ban would be designed first and foremost to protect children from second-hand smoke as well as encouraging adults to give up smoking.
The First Minister added that it would be the next logical step following the ban on smoking in enclosed spaces such as offices, pubs and restaurants.
The Health Behaviour in School Aged Children survey suggests that around 20% of 11-16 year old school children in Wales report being exposed to smoke the last time they travelled in a car.
Those from the least affluent families were more than twice as likely as those from the most affluent families to report being exposed.
The First Minister said: “Smoking remains the single major cause of preventable and premature death in Wales. Every year around 5,600 people die from smoking-related illnesses.
“Children are particularly at risk from second-hand smoke, especially in vehicles where a confined space means there is no respite from the harm of the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.
“Our manifesto committed us to take tough action to tackle inequalities in health, particularly the harm caused by tobacco use and its effect on children.
“Wales was the first UK country to vote in favour of a ban on smoking in public places and if necessary we will not shy away from considering the introduction of progressive legislation to further protect children from second-hand smoke.
Dr Tony Jewell, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, added: “There is robust evidence that the level of toxic chemicals is very high in cars even with window ventilation.
“There are wider long term public health benefits too, as evidence shows that children are also more likely to pick up the smoking habit and continue smoking in their adult years if their parents smoke in front of them.”
The British Lung Foundation has welcomed the move.
Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “We are very pleased that the Welsh Government has outlined plans today to tackle the problem of children being exposed to passive smoke when confined in the car.
“Awareness-raising is very important as a first step to any approach. However, evidence from Canada shows that provinces which have introduced legislation on smoking in cars with children have seen a bigger drop in children’s exposure to tobacco smoke, compared to those who have relied just on awareness campaigns. With mounting support from the public and doctors, it is crucial that legislation remains an option, to help protect children’s health.”
I learn something every day, in my naivety I thought that the cars themselves produce huge amounts of toxins during their manufacture and use. Maybe I am wrong, perhaps though, I am right. If the latter is true perhaps the assembly should ban parents taking their children back and forth to school in cars, giving rise to pollution and congestion?
Or maybe the Welsh Assembly should put more effort into things that matter to Wales such as seeking investment in long term jobs and better education for the people of this country? Too much to ask, they prefer meddling with minutiae rather than dealing with the real problems facing the people of Wales. The intellecual poverty of the assembly is leading to the actual poverty of the people of this nation.