NO SMOKING DAY AND CHILDREN

Early day motion 722, tabled 1 March 2004 by Syd Rapson (Labour). Signed by 79 members.

That this House acknowledges that smoking near children is a major cause of respiratory illness such as respiratory syncytial virus bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and problems such as wheezing, coughing and breathlessness; regrets that an estimated 17,000 under five-year olds are hospitalised every year as a result of second-hand smoke; further regrets that 42 per cent. of children live in a house where at least one person smokes; congratulates the British Lung Foundation for highlighting the negative effects of second-hand smoke on the respiratory health of babies and young children; urges all smokers to pledge to protect our children's fragile lungs by observing No Smoking Day on 10th March; and asks the Government to do more to promote this message.

Signatures by party: Labour 50, Liberal Democrat 13, Labour/Co-operative 8, UUP 3, Conservative 2, DUP 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.