Wales has announced it will press ahead with legislation to ban smoking in cars carrying children, after research showed that 84% of the public now support the ban.
The Welsh Government will now consult on the exact details of the legislation, which aims to protect minors from harmful second-hand smoke, and urged the public to get involved with the discussions.
Research published alongside the announcement showed that the number of people smoking in cars has been in decline, and that fewer than 10% of 1022 people surveyed by the Welsh Government think it’s acceptable to smoke in cars with children or even non-smokers.
Welsh health minister, Professor Mark Drakeford said: ‘Although the research findings show that progress has been made in reducing children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in cars, we now believe the introduction of regulations to prohibit smoking in private vehicles carrying under-18s is needed as the final piece in the jigsaw to eliminate the harm and end persistent inequalities in exposure.’
‘We will now consult on these proposals and I urge people to have their say’.
In February Parliament voted 376 to 107 in favour of a ban which will be included in the Children and Families Bill.The move was welcomed by the BMA and the consultation by the UK parliament was launched last week, and will run until 27 August.
