21-10-02

“Tobacco Advertising Bill a major step forward” says Barrett

John Barrett MP, the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today welcomed an opportunity to progress through the House of Commons a Bill to ban tobacco advertising.

John Barrett MP said:

"As someone who sat on the Committee dealing with the Bill during its earlier stages, I know what a difference this measure will make if passed by Parliament tonight.

"Nobody denies the negative impact smoking has on the health of the general public. This Bill will make a major contribution to efforts in reducing the numbers of smokers and tackle the means by which younger people are encouraged to start the habit.

"This measure will hold the Labour Government to its promise to ban tobacco advertising in its first term, something it failed to deliver on. However, thanks to the Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Clement-Jones, who first introduced this Bill, we can now take this major step forward in the campaign to improve the country's health".

ENDS