---

Health Bill

Another example of the nanny state from the Dispatch Box. I have to say—and I might as well say it again at the beginning of this Sitting—that we have set out our views on the science and the health risks of smoking and second-hand smoke and I do not intend to repeat that science on every clause stand part. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Walton, but I do not intend to join other noble Lords in a kind of confessional as to what they may or may not have done in the past. As to the issue of choice, which was raised by the noble Lord, Lord Russell-Johnston, the Government believe in choice and set out clearly in Choosing Health that,"““it is for people to make healthy choices if they wish to””." This includes whether to smoke. Often, however, people do not have a choice whether the enclosed public places that they visit or the places that they work in are smoke-free. That is why we are bringing forward the legislation. If people want to smoke in their own homes, that is up to them. The Bill deals with the communal issues around enclosed public spaces and workplaces. That is the basis of the Government’s policy in the Bill and that is the way in which we are proceeding. I shall respond, very briefly, to the perfectly fair questions asked by the noble Lord, Lord Naseby. The variation in costs reflects the different estimates that were provided to us by the different enforcement authorities. That is why a range of costs is shown. As to the cost of adaptations of licensed premises, I am struggling to think of anything other than the no-smoking notices that are required. I do not think that that is an overly demanding cost for people in this area. Norway is very interesting. We shall try to find out something about it for the noble Lord, Lord Naseby, but I would suggest, with all due humility, that the Scottish experience may be more relevant to what is going on in England. The noble Lord, Lord Stoddart, keeps asking me to find out all kinds of terribly interesting facts to do with car exhausts and exhaust fumes. I remind him that exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and are dangerous in enclosed or substantially enclosed places. However, if he wishes to research this subject, it is down to him to use the Library and his own sources. We have made our position clear on the science but he does not seem to accept it. I do not think that it is the Government’s job to pursue the variety of interesting areas that he wants us to explore.