National Assembly for
Wales / Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Health
and Social Care Committee/
Y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol
Public Health (Wales) Bill / Bil Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Cymru)
Evidence from Owain Rowley-Conwy – PHB 49 / Tystiolaeth gan Owain Rowley-Conwy – PHB 49
Public Health (Wales) Bill: Consultation questions
Tobacco and Nicotine Products
The Bill includes proposals to ban the use of nicotine inhaling devices, such as e-cigarettes, in enclosed spaces like restaurants, pubs and at work. Shops will also have to join a register for retailers of tobacco and nicotine products, and it will become an offence to “hand over” tobacco and e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18.
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Do you agree that the use of e-cigarettes should be banned in enclosed public and work places in Wales, as is currently the case for smoking tobacco? |
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No |
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Do you believe the provisions in the Bill will achieve a balance between the potential benefits to smokers wishing to quit with any potential dis-benefits related to the use of e-cigarettes? |
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No |
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Do you have any views on whether the use of e-cigarettes re-normalises smoking behaviours in smoke-free areas, and whether, given their appearance in replicating cigarettes, inadvertently promote smoking? |
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There is no evidence whatsoever to support these suggestions. |
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Do you have any views on whether e-cigarettes are particularly appealing to young people and could lead to a greater uptake of their use among this age group, and which may ultimately lead to smoking tobacco products? |
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There is no evidence for either of these contentions. |
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Do you agree with the proposal to establish a national register of retailers of tobacco and nicotine products? |
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No. There is no need for such a register and it would simply add to the bureaucratic burden on the taxpayer |
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What are your views on creating a new offence for knowingly handing over tobacco and nicotine products to a person under 18, which is the legal age of sale in Wales? |
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How can this possibly be policed? Legislation which is unenforceable simply brings the law into disrepute |
Special Procedures
The Bill includes a proposal to create a compulsory licensing system for people who carry out special procedures in Wales. These special procedures are tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture and electrolysis. The places where these special procedures are carried out will also need to be approved.
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What are your views on creating a compulsory, national licensing system for practitioners of specified special procedures in Wales, and that the premises or vehicle from which the practitioners operate must be approved? |
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Where is the demand for this? Are welsh tatooists and acupuncturists particularly dangerous? Once again it simply adds to the bureaucratic burden on the taxpayer. |
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Do you agree with the types of special procedures defined in the Bill? |
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No. See my answer to Qu7 above |
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What are your views on the provision which gives Welsh Ministers the power to amend the list of special procedures through secondary legislation? |
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As above |
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Do you have any views on whether enforcing the licensing system would result in any particular difficulties for local authorities? |
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It would add to administration and the cost would inevitably be borne by the council tax payer. |
Intimate piercings
The Bill includes a proposal to ban intimate body piercings for anyone under the age of 16 in Wales.
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Do you believe an age restriction is required for intimate body piercing? What are your views on prohibiting the intimate piercing of anyone under the age of 16 in Wales? |
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It would appear reasonable but once again how is it be enforced. Intimate piercings are, of their very nature, concealed throughout most of the day. |
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Do you agree with the list of intimate body parts defined in the Bill? Whether any other types of piercings (for example naval piercing, tongue piercing) should be prohibited on young people under the age of 16. |
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See above Qu11. |
Community pharmacies
The Bill will require local health boards in Wales to review the need for pharmaceutical services in its area, and that any decisions relating to community pharmacies are based on the needs of local communities.
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Do you believe the proposals in the Bill will achieve the aim of improving the planning and delivery of pharmaceutical services in Wales? |
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I see no problems with the current system. |
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What are your views on whether the proposals will encourage existing pharmacies to adapt and expand their services in response to local needs? |
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The market will see to this. If there is a need for a pharmacy then an enterprising pharmacist will soon find it and solve it. |
Public toilets
The Bill includes a proposal that will require local authorities to prepare a local strategy to plan how they will meet the needs of their communities for accessing public toilet facilities. However, the Bill does not require local authorities to actually provide toilet facilities.
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What are your views on the proposal that each local authority in Wales will be under a duty to prepare and publish a local toilets strategy for its area? |
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Absolute waste of time and money. |
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Do you believe that preparing a local toilet strategy will ultimately lead to improved provision of public toilets? |
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No. |
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Do you believe the provision in the Bill to ensure appropriate engagement with communities is sufficient to guarantee the views of local people are taken into account in the development of local toilet strategies? |
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People within these communities generally have better things to do with their time. |
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What are your views on considering toilet facilities within settings in receipt of public funding when developing local strategies? |
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Fine. No problem with that. |
Other comments
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Do you believe that the issues included in this Bill reflect the priorities for improving public health in Wales? |
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No. |
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Are there any other areas of public health which you believe require legislation to help improve the health of people in Wales? |
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Sorting out the NHS in Wales so it works as least as well as the one in England would be a good start. |