Children and exposure to second-hand smoke

Smoking in cars when children present
4 February 2010

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33216 by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 April 2010, what assessment it has made of the effects on the health of children of passive smoking in cars.  (S3W-39189)

Shona Robison: The smoking ban has undoubtedly reduced exposure to second-hand smoke among children in Scotland, because of greater awareness among their parents about the risks of second-hand smoke. The Scottish Government has not undertaken any formal assessment of the effects on children of passive smoking in cars to date. However, this specific topic is to be considered by the Research and Evaluation sub-group of the Scottish Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco Control which has been set up to identify gaps in research knowledge in relation to tobacco control.