How to Lobby a Peer for comprehensive smokefree legislation
Why do we need to keep campaigning?
The amendment to make all workplaces and public places smokefree was won by 384 votes in favour to 184 votes against on February 14 th 2006 . Although the amendment passed with a majority of 200 votes, it doesn’t become an Act of Parliament until it passes through the same stages in the House of Lords as the House of Commons and receives Royal Assent. While the Health Bill is being reviewed in the House of Lords, we need to lobby Peers asking them to support the revised Health Bill to make all workplaces and enclosed public places smokefree.
How are the House of Lords different from the House of Commons?
Unlike MPs in the House of Commons,members of the Lords are not elected. They attend the House on a voluntary basis and few of them have offices or a secretary. However they have experience and independent expertise on a wide range of subjects.
How to engage a Peer in your campaign?
Members of the House of Lords are organised on a party basis in much the same way as the House of Commons, but with important differences:
- Lords’ members do not represent constituencies.
- A substantial number are “cross-benchers” - not members of a political party.
How to find a Peer to write to?
A good way to find a Peer with an interest in health issues is to look at the Register of All Party Groups.
For example there is an All Party Parliamentary Group on
- Smoking and Health
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Health
- Heart Disease
They are relatively informal and groups comprise of MPs and Peers.
The House of Lords had a debate about smoking in the House of Lords on 21 st December 2004 .
You can find out who spoke for and against a smoking ban in Hansard
The names of the Peers listed as Not-Contents (116 Peers) are in favour of a smoking ban.
For more information on Peers go to:
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories21.cfm
Write to a Peer
Key points to make in your letter.
- Secondhand smoke is a killer .
- Everyone has a right to a smokefree workplace .
- Comprehensive smokefree laws help people quit smoking , they’re good for business and they’re popular.
- Partial smokefree legislation will be less effective, increase inequalities and be considerably harder and more expensive to enforce.
- Ventilation doesn’t work.
- Use your own experiences where possible to support your letter.
The address for the House of Lords is
House of Lords
LONDON
SW1A 0PW
How to Address Members of the House of Lords
Finally
Please let us know what actions you have taken and if the Peer plans to support the Health Bill and comprehensive smokefree legislation. This is important information we can use in our campaign as the Health Bill passes through the House of Lords. Please send your Peer’s name and other relevant information to carol.lever@ash.org.uk or call 020 7739 5902
