Smoking in cars: Government stands firm for now

The House of Lords has been debating amendments to the Children and Families Bill.

One of the amendments would ban smoking in cars with children.

Thanks to Twitter and the British Lung Foundation (@lunguk) I've been able to follow the debate online.

To its credit, the Government - including the PM - has been clear that it doesn't want to legislate.

Here are some tweets quoting Government health spokesman Earl Howe:

Earl Howe "the government isn't convinced that creating new criminal offences is the right approach" #smokingincars

Earl Howe questioning how #smokingincars with children ban could be enforced "would be a cause of concern for police"

Earl Howe "the government firmly believes that we should be continuing a non-legislative approach" #smokingincars

Earl Howe "we are not complacent but we are yet to be convinced that legislation is most effective solution" #smokingincars

I understand that all amendments were withdrawn following today's debate but they could still be voted on next month.

I may not be the Government's number one fan but it's good to see ministers adopting a sensible, even laisse faire, approach to legislation.

First plain packaging, now smoking in cars. Let's hope this is the start of a new era in politics. (I wish!)