Health sector welcomes new ban on smoking in cars

Organisations representing different parts of the health and care sector have responded positively to a government vote in favour of a new ban on smoking in cars carrying children.

The amendment to the Children and Families Bill was approved overwhelmingly by the House of Commons, meaning the government can move ahead with the legal change, which has been backed by prime minister David Cameron.

A statement from the British Medical Association said this law will help to protect children from the negligent behaviour of adults who are not acting in their best interests by exposing them to secondhand smoke.

The Royal College of Nursing agreed with this assessment, having campaigned for this outcome as part of the Smokefree Action Coalition in order to reduce the impact of smoking on public health and NHS spending.

Many organisations in the charity sector also welcomed the outcome, including the anti-smoking body Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), which also welcomed MPs' decision to approve the introduction of standardised packaging for cigarettes.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: "I congratulate parliamentarians from all parties and the crossbenches in both Houses of Parliament. This campaign could not have been won without their persistence and their willingness to work across party lines."