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Health Bill

moved Amendment No. 22:"Page 9, line 1, at end insert ““or higher than 18””" The noble Lord said: My Lords, in December last year, the Government announced their intention to consult on raising the minimum age limit for sales of tobacco. This consultation will be published in early July and the results will be considered carefully before a final decision is made. Clause 13 was introduced with cross-party support during the Bill’s passage through the other place. The powers in this clause allow the Secretary of State the appropriate flexibility to raise the minimum age limit for sales of tobacco through secondary legislation, by the affirmative resolution procedure, after consultation in the usual way. The clause specifies that the age limit can be changed only to an age not lower than 16, but does not specify an upper age. I explained in Grand Committee that it is not our intention to raise the age for sale of tobacco products any higher than 18 years, and that this will happen only if such a rise receives support following a full public consultation. However, it is possible that the Bill as currently drafted could allow the minimum age to be raised to 21 years. I realise that that possibility caused the Committee concern, despite my assurances that that is not the Government’s intention. I have therefore tabled Amendment No. 22, which specifies that the minimum age limit for the sale of tobacco products cannot be higher than 18. I hope that this puts the Government’s intentions beyond doubt, and I beg to move. On Question, amendment agreed to.