Make smoking history for our children reception

Top: Sandra Gidley MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Health) Right: Sir George Young MP (Conservative) Bottom: Dawn Primarolo MP (Minister for Public Health

The Cancer Research UK parliamentary reception for the Out of Sight, Out of Mind campaign was held in the House of Commons on 25th March. This reception provided the opportunity for MPs and peers to find out more information about what steps could be taken to further protect children and young people from tobacco marketing as the Health Bill progresses through Parliament. Approximately 340,000 under-16s try cigarettes for the first time each year* and eight out of ten smokers start before the age of 19**.

The well-attended reception featured speeches from Cancer Research UK Chief Executive Harpal Kumar, Health Minister Dawn Primarolo MP, Professor Gerard Hastings of the Cancer Research UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies and Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). The speakers highlighted why it is so important to make smoking history for our children and Professor Gerard Hastings also spoke about the evidence base behind the prohibition of tobacco Point of Sale displays.

The Health Bill, which had its first Reading in the Commons on 13th May, provides a vital opportunity for MPs to take decisive action to further protect children from tobacco marketing. So far over 50,000 people have pledged their support for the Out of Sight, Out of Mind campaign and if you wish to e-mail your MP to take action please click here.

The campaign calls for tobacco to be put out of sight at the point of sale, a total ban on cigarette vending machines and the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products. More details can be found at www.cancerresearchuk.org/WestminsterHealthBill and www.cancercampaigns.org.uk

MPs at the reception shared their support for the Out of Sight, Out of Mind campaign with the BBC’s Jon Sopel. Watch two short interviews: Andrew Miller MP with constituent Kate Schofield and Russell Brown MP.

Footnotes

  • *Impact Assessment of prohibiting the display of tobacco at point of sale, for the Health Bill, Department of Health, January 2009 p.17. read
  • ** Goddard E. (2008). General Household Survey 2006: Smoking and drinking among adults 2006. Office for National Statistics.