Local MP, Gordon Prentice, will be backing moves today to ban "point of sale" tobacco displays which, he says, encourage young people to buy cigarettes.

Speaking from Westminster today, the MP said: "I fully support the range of measures in the Health Bill which are designed to make smoking history. And I shall be supporting amendments which toughen up the Bill."

"I have had lots of letters from constituents pressing for action to curb smoking amongst young people.

"The Director of Public Health for NHS East Lancashire, Dr Ellis Friedman, tells me he wants to see the end of tobacco vending machines and point of sale tobacco advertising. He is also pressing for tobacco products to be sold in plain packages."

The MP continued: "According to Dr Friedman, in some wards in Lancashire smoking prevalence rates reach 51% so there is clearly a need to protect children."

"People who smoke pay an enormous price. In cash and to their own health – and others."

Note to Editors: A briefing for MPs from Action on Smoking and Health shows:

Point of sale displays recruit young smokers.

Point of sale bans have now been implemented in numerous countries, most recently in Ireland on 1 July 2009.

Only prohibiting vending machines will prevent children from using them to buy cigarettes.

Plain or standardised packaging for tobacco products has been found to reduce its attractiveness to children.

Requiring tobacco companies to disclose their marketing expenditure is now already required by the US Federal authorities and by Canada and helps identify new marketing initiatives.