Ground prepared for standardized packs

The Northern Ireland Assembly voted on Monday to accept the introduction of standardized packaging for cigarettes, according to a BBC Online story.

Assembly members voted on a legislative consent motion on the Children and Families Bill, which will allow the UK government in Westminster to legislate to impose standardized packaging in Northern   Ireland.

Health Minister Edwin Poots said the vote provided for Northern Ireland to participate in what might happen in the rest of the UK.

In addressing the argument that standardized packaging would make no difference to the number of people starting to smoke, Poots said there was evidence suggesting that “to do nothing was not satisfactory”.