Rookverbod Wales van de baan
Een voorstel om een rookverbod in te stellen in de horeca van Wales is stukgelopen op onvoldoende steun in het parlement.
Omdat minder dan 40 parlementsleden kwamen opdagen was de stemming niet geldig. De stemming over het voorstel wordt nu uitgesteld en in de praktijk betekent dat in Wales dat het nog lang kan duren voordat het een tweede keer in stemming wordt gebracht.
Labour’s Julie Morgan (Cardiff N), the Bill’s sponsor, denied that it was an attack on smokers.
“We can’t force them to quit,” she told the Commons. “Let them smoke if they are unable to give up. But don’t let their smoking affect other people.”
Mrs Morgan said there was “damning evidence” that exposure to “second hand smoke” increased the risk of contracting lung cancer and heart disease by about a quarter.
Her Bill would allow the National Assembly of Wales to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces, like pubs and restaurants.
But despite Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru support, the measure was criticised by both the Opposition and the Government.
Tory spokesman Tim Loughton said an outright ban was “unworkable,” because it would lead to the closure of many pubs and clubs. The Tories wanted instead to see the voluntary code toughened, particularly in relation to children and employees.
