Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Clement Jones, introduced this bill to parliament on July 11 2001. It is the same bill as that dropped by the government at the end of the last Parliament.

In a press release issued when the bill was introduced, Baroness Northover, the co-sponsor of the bill, said:

"A ban on tobacco advertising is crucial for improvements in public health. Children, who are most susceptible to advertising, are most at risk. The majority of young people smoke the brands that are most heavily advertised. Three thousand people die every year because there is no ban on tobacco advertising. That is the equivalent of three large secondary schools being wiped out per year, or two classes per week.

"The Government's own research shows that a ban on tobacco advertising would make the dangers of smoking clearer. The Government has to act now to save lives in future generations."

Lord Clement-Jones said:

"The Government has a terrible record on tobacco advertising so far. It introduced the previous Bill too late in the last Parliament and then dropped it from the Queen's Speech.

"The Ecclestone affair and wrangles over party funding are history but the effects of tobacco advertising are not.

"Liberal Democrats will today give this Bill the priority it deserves. We are clearly providing the effective opposition to an unambitious Labour Government."

The bill has got the support of the government, according to Robin Cook, the leader of the Commons. It was announced on April 18 that the bill would go forward in government time, with its second reading in the Commons taking place on April 30 2002.

This means that the bill is very likely to succeed.

House of Lords

First reading: July 12 2001 (HL Bill 7)

Second reading: November 2 2001

Committee (first day) November 16 2001

Committee (second day): December 7 2001

Committee (third day): January 18 2002

The bill as amended in committee (HL Bill 45)

Report: March 1 2002 (The bill as amended on report: HL Bill 59

Third reading: March 15 2002

House of Commons

First reading: March 18 2002 (HC Bill 112)

Second reading: April 30 2002 (in government time)

Standing Committee A

• 1st sitting: May 7 2002 (pm)
• 2nd sitting: May 9 2002 (am)
• 3rd sitting: May 9 2002 (pm)
• 4th sitting: May 13 2002 (am)
• 5th sitting: May 13 2002 (pm)

Remaining stages: October 21 2002

House of Lords

Consideration of Commons amendments: October 22 2002

Royal assent: November 7 2002