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Health Bill

I had not intended to say anything until those last few remarks. The Government are obviously contemplating increasing the age for the purchase of tobacco from 16 to 21. That is the possibility. I was not going to oppose this clause until I heard that. The rationale behind the suggestion that the age limit should be 18 is that it is already 18 for the purchase of alcoholic drinks. I would have thought that, since people are children until they are 18, it is a perfectly logical thing to do. But the statement from the Minister takes us much further. To contemplate banning the sale of tobacco to people between the ages of 18 and 21 is a serious step that involves a much deeper discussion than we can have here this afternoon. I hope that between now and Report the Minister will reflect on the serious statement he has made to the Committee this afternoon.