Tobacco advertising ban is welcome – Euro-MP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th Oct 2002

A West Midlands Euro-MP and asthma suffer has welcomed the House of Commons decision to pass the Tobacco Advertising & Promotion Bill into UK law.

The Bill, which now awaits royal assent, will ban cigarette advertising and sponsorship in the UK. Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne commented:

“My heartfelt congratulations to Lord Clement-Jones and Evan Harris MP for carrying this Bill through both Houses of Parliament. By backing today’s Bill, the Government is finally making good on its 1997 manifesto commitment to ban tobacco advertising, although it is notable that this was only achieved by a Liberal Democrat Private Members Bill.

“But this Bill is just the beginning. Better public health requires much more to be done, including sorting out workplace smoking, allocating proper resources to smoking cessation therapies and health education for children. “Furthermore, government health warnings on cigarette packaging could be far more effective and in that regard I would urge the government to introduce the EU Tobacco Directive into UK law as soon as possible.”

In 2001, Liz Lynne was a key player in campaigning for the Tobacco Directive to be passed by the European Parliament. The EU legislation provides for reductions in the tar and nicotine content of cigarettes, a substantial increase in the size of written health warnings on cigarette packs, and the removal of misleading terms such as “mild”, “light” and “low tar”.