Speeches by Foy.

“For instance, if it was a Bill Committee, the Bill Committee is chosen but you can also show interest and say, “Because of my expertise, I would like to sit on a Bill Committee”. Have either of you tried that?”

“If you want to go on the delegated legislation Committees, I am sure there would be lots of people who would bite your hand off. There are loads of them. You can have a few of mine, if you like.”

“You have probably covered this mostly, but we have heard your own thoughts on what your explanation is and how you would like to be described but, as you said, there could be a few other colleagues who may join the suspended gang in the future. Hypothetically, if you had chosen to form a grouping with other colleagues …”

“That was more hypothetical: if there were a larger grouping of suspended MPs—not you particularly—who then might want to see, themselves as a group, do you think this should be permitted? Clearly, treated the same as any other registered party, but should they be able to use the name of that grouping if they did decide…”

“Yes. If it were a group going forward, a larger group, and they wanted to have a name or an affiliated descriptor.”

“Welcome to both of you. As you know, the membership of Select Committees and other House Committees, such as the Bill Committees and the designated legislation Committees, reflect the composition of the House. Do you feel that independent MPs have their views taken into account in these proceedings? To what extent do y…”

“For instance, if it was a Bill Committee, the Bill Committee is chosen but you can also show interest and say, “Because of my expertise, I would like to sit on a Bill Committee”. Have either of you tried that?”

“If you want to go on the delegated legislation Committees, I am sure there would be lots of people who would bite your hand off. There are loads of them. You can have a few of mine, if you like.”

“You have probably covered this mostly, but we have heard your own thoughts on what your explanation is and how you would like to be described but, as you said, there could be a few other colleagues who may join the suspended gang in the future. Hypothetically, if you had chosen to form a grouping with other colleagues …”

“I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause 4 Ban on supply of cigarette filters “(1) The Secretary of State must make regulations under section 140 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 having the effect of prohibiting the supply of relevant cigarette filters or cigarettes con…”

“The new clause asks for a consultation, so a lot of issues would need to be worked through with the Chancellor. However, the tobacco companies make exorbitant profits from a product that kills the folk to they sell it to, so I am sure that the shadow Minister would agree that that means we should use some of their prof…”

“The new clause would be a game changer. One of the questions was whether the measure might later be applied to other areas—I presume that the hon. Member means taxing the big alcohol and gambling companies—but tobacco is a uniquely lethal and addictive product, so in this case the intervention is justified. She makes a…”

“The difference is that the tax would not come from the consumers. This would be a tax on the big four tobacco companies, rather than raising taxes from consumers. We know that consumers of these products are already likely to come from deprived backgrounds. In addition to raising revenue, the measure would allow us to …”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. I will not be pushing this new clause to a vote; nevertheless, I think it is a policy that the Minister should take into consideration. New clause 2 would require the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to consult on a “polluter pays” levy. The Minister wi…”

“I wonder whether the Minister will allow me to indulge in a history lesson of my own, as that seems to have been the order of the day for most of the Committee’s sitting days. While I am overjoyed that the Bill is one step closer to becoming law, I must make the Committee aware of a previous smoking ban introduced in t…”

“I totally agree that we need a consultation—that is the beauty of gauging the public interest—but the issue around smoking in public places, and particularly play yards, is about not just second-hand smoke, but de-normalising exposure to smoking. The less that our children see adults smoking, the less chance they will …”

“indicated dissent.”

“I beg to move amendment 5, in clause 91, page 51, line 26, at the end insert— “and markings containing health warnings”. This amendment enables regulations to be made requiring health warnings to be marked on individual cigarettes and cigarette papers.”

“I am not pressing the new clause to a vote, although I suggested that the Minister or Department could look into the issue once the Bill has received Royal Assent. But just for information, Canada is the first country in the world to require mandatory health warnings on cigarettes. That legislation came into force in 2…”

“In my speech, I referenced evidence from Canada—the Health Canada survey. If the hon. Gentleman would like some more information on that, he could get in touch with ASH, which has the results. There was evidence to suggest that having health warnings had an impact, particularly on young people.”