Clause 2 - Prohibition of tobacco advertising
Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill
9:45 am
Ms Yvette Cooper (Parliamentary Secretary (Public Health), Department of Health; Pontefract and Castleford, Labour)
We considered whether such a system needed to be included in the Bill. We reached the conclusion that it did not and that it would be less burdensome to develop a voluntary system that was not included in the Bill. We are happy to discuss with the Internet Watch Foundation or with ISPs the form that the system should take and how it should function. We have discussed the matter in detail with the Department for Trade and Industry, which takes the lead on e-commerce, to ensure that we find the least burdensome way to implement it. That can be done if people work together.
The group contains a series of amendments that cover a range of issues. We recognise that issues relating to the internet are complex, given the pace of developing technology. In the Bill, we have tried to provide defences that are sufficiently broad to cope with the technology, so that ISPs and others involved in electronic means of distribution will be treated fairly and at the same time we can stop tobacco advertising and promotion in the United Kingdom.
Debate adjourned.—[Mrs. McGuire.]
Adjourned accordingly at two minutes to Ten o'clock till this day at half-past Two o'clock.