Luciana Berger MP, Labour’s Shadow Public Health Minister, on ‘No Smoking Day 2014’, said:

“Today marks an opportunity for us to recognise the progress we have made on this issue in the past few months.

“From the Opposition benches, we have forced Ministers to ensure that they put children’s health first. I’m glad that the Government has accepted Labour’s proposals to ban smoking in cars carrying children, which will mean that fewer young people are exposed to dangerous levels of second-hand smoke.

“The Government’s u-turn on standardised packaging and adoption of Labour’s proposed ban on proxy purchasing of tobacco are also steps in the right direction. However, while we wait for the Government to translate these three important victories into genuine action, time is passing. Some 570 children start smoking every day.

“Today, I urge the Government to quicken its pace in bringing these vital changes for children on to the statute books.”