Vote to ban smoking in cars with children is hailed as victory for child health

The decision by MPs to give governments in England and Wales the power to ban smoking in cars when children are present has been hailed as a big step towards protecting child health.

MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the ban, which was introduced last week by Labour in the House of Lords as an amendment to the Children and Families Bill.1 In a free vote in the House of Commons on Monday 10 February the amendment was passed by 376 votes to 107.

The proposal gives the government the power to introduce a new …