Health Bill [HL]

I have gone into some detail about how we think this will work and why we think that it will not have the devastating impact that the noble Earl and the noble Lord suggest. However, we are aware that in the current economic climate, small businesses are struggling, and that is why we would not commence this legislation until 2011 for larger stores and 2013 for small ones. We understand that small convenience stores replace their tobacco gantries every five years or so, and that means that refurbishments would be able to be made in the normal refurbishment cycle for many stores. Providing an extra two years’ lead-in time for implementation will enable small shops to take advantage of the innovative solutions that I am sure will be developed, and that extra time has been welcomed by the Association of Convenience Stores. The noble Earl, Lord Howe, noted concerns expressed by retailers, particularly in the growth in membership of the Tobacco Retailers Alliance. I hope that he is aware that the alliance is funded by the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association, which represents three of the largest tobacco companies: British American Tobacco UK, Gallagher and Imperial Tobacco. Of course we could trade statistics on who has written to whom about what consultations, but I should like to note that the Save our Shops postcard campaign that lobbied for many Members of this House and the other place was run by the Responsible Retailers’ Campaign, which is also funded by the tobacco retailers. Perhaps I may refer to a few points made by the noble Lord, Lord Naseby, and others. He raised the issue about where children get their tobacco products. That research—Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People, from the NHS statistics and information centre—shows that 78 per cent of young people buy their cigarettes from shops, either local shops or supermarkets, with 17 per cent buying from machines. I am happy to make the material available to the noble Lord.