MPs back plans to make it a criminal offence to smoke in cars when children are passengers

MPs have backed plans to make it a criminal offence, punishable by a £60 fine or licence points, to smoke in cars in England when children are passengers.

They voted in favour of a Labour-supported amendment to the Children and Families Bill by a majority of 269.

This will give Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt the power to bring in a ban in England.

Last week, more than 700 experts wrote to MPs urging them to back change. But critics say legislation is not needed.

The amendment - passed by 376 votes to 107 - empowers, but does not compel, ministers to make it a criminal offence for drivers to fail to prevent smoking in their privately owned vehicles when children are present.

The House of Lords passed the amendment to the Children and Families Bill last month. The bill returned to the Commons on Monday for debate.

It is expected to come into effect before the election, most likely in April next year. However, Labour has said that if the measure does not become law before the next election, it will be included in its manifesto.

A Department of Health survey found 300,000 children a year visited GPs in England every year with problems linked to second-hand smoke.

Passive smoking is linked to respiratory infections such as pneumonia and chest infections in youngsters. It can also trigger asthma attacks in sufferers and contribute to sudden unexpected infant death.

In a letter published in the British Medical Journal last week, respiratory health experts argued that exposure to second-hand smoke was a "major cause of ill-health in children", particularly among the most disadvantaged groups.

It said smoking in cars exposed children to particularly "high amounts of tobacco smoke" and there was now a consensus that children should be protected from such unnecessary hazards.

It also said there were precedents for a ban, including laws to require people to wear seatbelts and, more recently, the ban on using mobile phones while driving.

Bans on smoking in cars carrying children already exist in countries including Australia, Canada, South Africa and the US.

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