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| E-cigarettes: Partial ban on use in public places wins AMs' support | E-cigarettes: Partial ban on use in public places wins AMs' support |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| AMs have backed a proposed ban on e-cigarettes in some public places. | |
| The Welsh government has won support from some Plaid Cymru AMs for the measure after ministers watered down the ban to places where children are likely to be present. | The Welsh government has won support from some Plaid Cymru AMs for the measure after ministers watered down the ban to places where children are likely to be present. |
| There are worries the devices may re-normalise smoking, but critics say there is not enough evidence for the measure. | There are worries the devices may re-normalise smoking, but critics say there is not enough evidence for the measure. |
| A Liberal Democrat bid to scrap the e-cigarette ban failed on Tuesday. | A Liberal Democrat bid to scrap the e-cigarette ban failed on Tuesday. |
| The final vote on the Public Health Bill takes place next week. | The final vote on the Public Health Bill takes place next week. |
| If the bill is passed the e-cigarette ban could come in by spring 2017 at the earliest. | If the bill is passed the e-cigarette ban could come in by spring 2017 at the earliest. |
| Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams told Tuesday's Senedd debate: "I have been inundated by people in my own consistency and across Wales who have successfully kicked life-long smoking habits with the use of this device." | Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams told Tuesday's Senedd debate: "I have been inundated by people in my own consistency and across Wales who have successfully kicked life-long smoking habits with the use of this device." |
| The Lib Dem bid was supported by the Welsh Conservatives. Darren Millar, Tory shadow health minister, said: "There is more evidence of harm from smoke from a piece of burnt toast than there is of evidence of harm from the use an e-cigarette." | The Lib Dem bid was supported by the Welsh Conservatives. Darren Millar, Tory shadow health minister, said: "There is more evidence of harm from smoke from a piece of burnt toast than there is of evidence of harm from the use an e-cigarette." |
| Some Plaid AMs have said they would support the government's regulations. | Some Plaid AMs have said they would support the government's regulations. |
| Elin Jones, Plaid AM for Ceredigion, told the debate she had been persuaded of a need for a partial ban because of the issue of normalisation and "for the sake of clarity for the people of Wales and owners of public areas". | Elin Jones, Plaid AM for Ceredigion, told the debate she had been persuaded of a need for a partial ban because of the issue of normalisation and "for the sake of clarity for the people of Wales and owners of public areas". |
| But Plaid had a free vote and the group was split, with some AMs in the party including Lindsay Whittle supporting the Lib Dems. | But Plaid had a free vote and the group was split, with some AMs in the party including Lindsay Whittle supporting the Lib Dems. |
| In response, Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: "In what way would we not wish to prevent the risk of our children being drawn into nicotine dependence, and from nicotine dependence into dependence on tobacco itself?" | In response, Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: "In what way would we not wish to prevent the risk of our children being drawn into nicotine dependence, and from nicotine dependence into dependence on tobacco itself?" |
| Originally the government wanted to ban e-cigarettes from all enclosed public and work places. | Originally the government wanted to ban e-cigarettes from all enclosed public and work places. |
| But a committee report found AMs were divided, with Plaid's Elin Jones suggesting imposing less stringent restrictions on e-cigarettes than those on tobacco. | But a committee report found AMs were divided, with Plaid's Elin Jones suggesting imposing less stringent restrictions on e-cigarettes than those on tobacco. |
| A compromise was later added to the bill that would see the devices restricted to schools, hospitals, train and bus stations and places selling food, among other locations. | A compromise was later added to the bill that would see the devices restricted to schools, hospitals, train and bus stations and places selling food, among other locations. |
| Hospitals will be able to designate certain areas to be exempt from the regulations. | Hospitals will be able to designate certain areas to be exempt from the regulations. |
| AMs on Tuesday voted to extend the reach of the ban to cover a number of other venues, including shops, public libraries, sports grounds and centres, and entertainment venues such as zoos and cinemas. | AMs on Tuesday voted to extend the reach of the ban to cover a number of other venues, including shops, public libraries, sports grounds and centres, and entertainment venues such as zoos and cinemas. |
| Pubs that do not serve food are specifically excluded, as are sex establishments, casinos, betting shops, adult gaming centres, premises with a bingo licence, specialist retailers of e-cigarettes, and pharmacy consulting rooms. | Pubs that do not serve food are specifically excluded, as are sex establishments, casinos, betting shops, adult gaming centres, premises with a bingo licence, specialist retailers of e-cigarettes, and pharmacy consulting rooms. |
| The bill also includes measures on the licensing of tattooists and for councils to produce a local toilets strategy. | The bill also includes measures on the licensing of tattooists and for councils to produce a local toilets strategy. |