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| Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy keeping in touch with his constituents through Skype |
Andrew says the the House of Commons will undertake a free vote on this matter.
This means there won't be any suggestion that MPs - right, left and centre - vote along party lines.
Andrew says he would like some guidance as to how you'd would like him to vote when the time comes.
Being a politician who fully embraces modern methods, he's set up an online voting form that his constituents can use to give him their views.
No doubt he'll take the feedback into consideration before making his mind up in the Commons.
Brigg Blog has created a link here which takes you straight to Andrew's form so you can have YOUR say, as his email on the topic won't have reached everyone in the Brigg area.
Just click here to take part...it will only take a few seconds.
Brigg Blog was thinking about this issue recently and our own views, for what they are worth, seem pretty much the same as Andrew's.
Our MP says: "Any adult who smokes in a confined space with children present, is to me not only unwise, but also guilty of potentially damaging their child’s health. It should not happen and I hope parents who do smoke would understand this. However, I worry that this measure is simply not enforceable and therefore ineffective."
He adds: "I would rather the police used their scarce traffic resources to address speeding through our
communities and dangerous driving."
He says there is also the question of where the line is drawn between the rights of the individual and the rights of the state."
It would be going a bit far to suggest this issue is a political Smoking Gun but some commentators seem to think it will be one that grabs more public attention than the vast majority of proposed legislation.
In due course we are sure Andrew will tell us which way he decides to cast his vote on behalf of Brigg and Goole.
www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Brigg
Yep - I agree....I completely agree with the principle that passive smoking dangerous for children, as well as others.
ReplyDeleteBut any law has to be reasonably enforceable......and how will kids feel towards the police if Dad is pulled over by the bobbies and fine him for smoking in kids' presence?
The general overall reduction in smoking has been influenced by education.....although I accept the law that banned smoking in pubs etc.
Consequently, there is a need for continued education, publicity to advertise the fact that passive smoking is dangerous to children.
Indeed, it could be considered as physical cruelty and laws already exist to protect kids - so perhaps, these existing laws could be adapted to include the dangers of passive smoking - in the same manner as taking drugs while supervising children can be perceived as 'child neglect'.