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Brought up, and read the First time.
The Secretary of State for Health (Ms Patricia Hewitt): I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
Mr. Speaker:
With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Amendment (a), in line 9, leave out paragraph (b).
14 Feb 2006 : Column 1291
Amendment (j), in line 11, at end insert
Amendment (b), in line 13, after first 'of' insert '(a)'.
Amendment (c), in line 15, at end insert
Amendment (d), in line 19, leave out subsection (5).
Amendment (i), in line 29, at end insert
Amendment (g), in line 30, after second 'conditions', insert '(a)'.
Amendment (h), in line 32, at end add
Amendment No. 8, in page 1, line 1, leave out clauses 1 to 12.
Government amendments Nos. 18 and 19.
Amendment No. 36, in page 2, line 31 [Clause 3], leave out subsections (1) to (4) and insert
Amendment No. 10, in page 2, line 33 [Clause 3], at end insert
Amendment No. 5, in page 2, line 37 [Clause 3], leave out from 'hotels' to end of line 38 and insert
Amendment No. 27, in page 2, line 38 [Clause 3], at end insert
Amendment No. 6, in page 4, line 3 [Clause 5], at end insert
Government amendments Nos. 20 and 24.
Government motion, That clause 8 be transferred to end of line 38 on page 6.
Ms Hewitt: I am sure that, before we begin the debate, the whole House will join me in congratulating the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) on the birth of his third baby. We all wish him well, both as a parent and, of course, in his efforts to give up smoking.
The Bill will ban smoking in virtually every enclosed public place and workplace in England. As the director of Action on Smoking and Health said:
"This Bill will be a big step forwards for public health. If passed into law, it will save thousands of lives every year, as vulnerable people are no longer exposed to dangerous second-hand smoke at work, and as thousands of smokers are encouraged to cut down or quit altogether."
The medical evidence is absolutely clearsmoking is the principal avoidable cause of premature death. Almost 85,000 people die every year from lung cancer, respiratory illnesses and heart disease. We have acted to deal with that scourge. We have already banned tobacco advertising, strengthened health warnings on cigarette packets and introduced NHS stop-smoking programmes, which in 200405 alone have helped nearly 300,000 people to give up smoking.
Yesterday, the Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), launched our latest anti-smoking television and radio campaign. Now, with this Bill, we will ensure that from the summer of next year18 months earlier than we originally proposedsmoke-free workplaces and public places will become the norm. Over time, we estimate that an additional 600,000 people will give up smoking as a result of this law and that millions more will be protected from second-hand smoke.
Patrick Hall (Bedford) (Lab): The public health case to make all workplaces smoke-free is very well established. Leaving aside the fact that many already are smoke-free, would it not boost the credibility of the House if the standards that we seek to impose on others were applied to ourselves?
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