Member

My contention, with that of other noble Lords on the Committee, is that in this country—a free country—and with a legally available product, the onus must be on the Government to show that the sweeping up handmade cigars into the generational ban will not be disproportionate to the harms caused if those particular tobacco products were to be exempted. I hope the Minister will be prepared to undertake to consider whether, as in past tobacco legislation, including legislation passed by the previous Labour Government, Ministers and officials are willing to adopt a sufficiently open mind to countenance the possibility of agreeing a special case in the light of all aspects of the available evidence.