The Government says it has no plans to ban smoking in private cars. Not yet, anyway.
Don't expect the issue to go away though. Together with standardised packaging it tops the list of things the UK tobacco control industry hopes to achieve in 2013.
This morning I'm writing a short piece on the subject for a local newspaper. It will appear in a section called 'The Big Debate'.
On Friday a regional Sunday newspaper invited me to comment on the latest initiative by Labour MP Alex Cunningham. Cunningham was responsible for the Smoke-Free Private Vehicles Bill which appears to have failed.
Undeterred (anti-smoking activists are relentless), he has now tabled an amendment to the Children and Families Bill to ban drivers smoking in their own cars.
If caught they will be given a £60 on-the-spot fine. Those with no previous convictions will be given the option of attending a “driver smoking awareness course”.
My initial response was probably not suitable for a family newspaper so I watered it down. Libel laws aside, you have no such restrictions ...