By Pamela McGowan Health reporter

Last updated at 13:25, Thursday, 15 October 2009

Cumbria's public health boss has congratulated MPs for backing moves to end the display of cigarettes in shops and to ban vending machines.

On Monday, as part of the Health Bill 2009, they voted to ban tobacco advertising at the point of sale, meaning vendors will have to keep cigarette products out of sight.

They also supported a backbench amendment to outlaw vending machines – both moves designed to stop young people taking up the habit.

Professor John Ashton, NHS Cumbria’s director of public health, said the move will help cut the number of tobacco-related deaths.

He said: “I am delighted that MPs are listening to their constituents and have voted not just in favour of closing loopholes to ban tobacco being displayed and sold in vending machines, but to save lives too.”

Last year, nearly 3,000 Cumbrians joined a regional campaign for new measures to protect the north west’s young people from the harmful effects of tobacco.

They hoped to influence MPs by sending postcards expressing their views to the Department of Health.

Dr Ashton added: “This vote has shown that MPs are listening to the views of people in Cumbria and the north west. Smoking remains the single biggest preventable cause of premature death.

“The only way to stop this from continuing is by sending out a clear message to the tobacco industry – that they can no longer continue to find loopholes to advertise their products and target young people.”

Latest figures show that 80 per cent of smokers start before the age of 19 – and 10 per cent of young people in the region admit that they regularly buy cigarettes from vending machines.

Tobacco displays were removed from retail outlets in Ireland in July this year.

Here in England, the Health Bill 2009 will now have to go to the House of Lords for further consideration before it can be made law.

But Janet Atherton, chairwoman of Smokefree North West, declared the vote a significant step forward.

She said: “This positive vote demonstrates the importance of just how much public support can help shape the future of tobacco legislation. Putting cigarettes out of sight will mean fewer young people taking up a deadly habit that remains the single biggest preventable cause of premature death in our region.”

First published at 11:35, Thursday, 15 October 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk