AN East Lancashire newsagents spokesman says he's disappointed after MPs voted to ban tobacco from being displayed in shops.

The Health Bill, which also includes a ban on cigarette vending machines, was passed by the Commons last night.

It will now be considered by the House of Lords and could mean cigarettes removed from display by 2013.

Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted that MPs have voted to protect young people from tobacco marketing.

”Putting tobacco out of sight in shops and removing cigarette vending machines will help reduce the number of young people taking up a lethal addiction: tobacco kills half of all long term users.”

But Blackburn councillor Suleman Khonat, who is national president of the National Federation of retail Newsagents (NFRN), said: “We are very disappointed that tobacco displays are scheduled to be removed from 2013 in small stores.

”Independent newsagents truly support the Department of Health’s efforts in reducing smoking overall but this legislation has been ill thought-out and will be ineffective.

"The NFRN has always believed that there were other, more effective, actions that the Government could take to stop youngsters smoking, such as making proxy purchasing of cigarettes by adults for children illegal, making it illegal for children to purchase cigarettes in shops, and for greater action to be taken against tobacco smugglers who have no concerns about selling tobacco to minors.”

More than 18,000 independent news and convenience retailers are members of the NFRN.

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