Janet’s Contributions
07/10/14
Smoking in Cars Carrying Children
14:14
Lindsay Whittle
10. What has been the outcome of the consultation announced in July on the decision to ban smoking in cars carrying children? OAQ(4)1865(FM)

14:14
Carwyn Jones / The First Minister
A six-week public consultation was launched on 11 September and will close on 24 October.

14:14
Lindsay Whittle
First Minister, you will be aware that the medical profession is united in its bid to have smoking in cars carrying children banned as soon as possible. We really need this action to take place now, because, as with the ban on smacking, which is possibly the longest debate in world politics, I do not want to be talking about this issue in 12 years’ time, and we need action now, please.

14:15
Carwyn Jones / The First Minister
That is the plan.

14:15
Janet Finch-Saunders
First Minister, I just wonder what consideration has been taken into account with the consultation as regards the ban and the enforcement of a fixed-penalty notice of £50, when one realises that if you carry a mobile phone now it is an illegal activity, and it is up to £1,000, yet we do see drivers using mobile phones. How can you build into any future legislation something that actually means that we can police this and that we actually do, once and for all, prevent people from smoking while children are present in cars?

14:15
Carwyn Jones / The First Minister
Well, the £50 fine that is proposed is at the same level as the fine for smoking in a public vehicle. Of course, this is out to consultation at the moment, so this is not a final figure. However, that is the proposed level. We will look at any submissions that come in with regard to whether that level should be increased.