Tobacco ad bill in the spotlight

The bill is making its way through parliament

The Leader of the House of Commons may be summoned to the Scottish Parliament, to explain why tobacco advertising has not been banned.

A member's bill to outlaw the promotion of cigarettes in Scotland is beginning its passage through the Scottish Parliament.

And MSPs on the health committee will make the decision on Wednesday on whether to ask Robin Cook to clarify the UK Government's intentions on the issue.

Scottish National Party MSP Nicola Sturgeon said she was fed up waiting for Westminster to ban tobacco advertising in the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon has called for the government to act

Ms Sturgeon has introduced a bill to the parliament which would outlaw the promotion of cigarettes north of the border only - a move which she claims could save more than 300 lives a year.

The bill would contain provisions for a ban on sponsorship agreements, but these would not be acted on until it became "practical" to do so through European action.

But Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs will only back the bill if Westminster confirms it has no plan to change the law.

Ms Sturgeon said Mr Cook should reveal what the government's intentions over advertising were.

Tobacco related diseases

She said she would withdraw her Bill if the government intended to legislate on the issue quickly.

Last September, doctors urged MSPs not to turn the issue into a political football.

The British Medical Association (BMA) called for cross-party support for the private member's bill.

The organisation's Scottish secretary, Dr Bill O'Neill, said a ban on adverts north of the border would save lives.

But he voiced fears that party politics could sabotage the move.

The BMA argues that 13,000 people die in Scotland each year from tobacco-related diseases, and that Holyrood debates have shown a majority of MSPs in favour of a ban.

However, the then health minister, Susan Deacon, warned there was a danger that the SNP move could be ineffective and unenforceable.

She also stressed that the UK Government had made "considerable efforts" to bring legislation through Westminster before the general election.