Health Bill, Report stage, day two
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Welcome to day two of the Report stage of the Health Bill in the House of Lords. We're expecting the debate to start around 5.00 with a vote on Clause 19 (tobacco display ban) around 10.00. But don't bet on it. Day one (April 28) only got as far as Clause 9 so it wouldn't surprise me if we are left waiting until day three (May 12).
The outcome is complicated by various amendments. For example, Conservative peer Earl Howe has proposed that Clause 19 be removed completely, while Labour peer Lord Borrie (former Director General of the Office of Fair Trading and the Advertising Standards Association) has put forward an amendment that would restrict display to "one packet only of each tobacco product which is offered for sale".
I'll keep you posted - but don't wait up. And remember, the Bill still has to go back to the House of Commons.
PS. Lord Borrie has written THIS article for the Telegraph. Worth reading, even if you don't agree with everything he says.
Reader Comments (2)
It is advertised that a debate in the Lords is on the Parliament TV Channel between 8pm and 11pm. Maybe the Health Bill will be on.
They just voted. The ban goes ahead.
Another battle lost.
The war continues....