Bill to ban car smoking gets priority

(ANSA) Rome, February 12 - Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin on Thursday sent a bill that would outlaw smoking with children inside cars to the premier's office to be included in a legislative package receiving special priority from Premier Matteo Renzi's government, officials said.
    Lorenzin first sought to pass the bill in parliament in 2013 by presenting a decree law to the cabinet but it was blocked as the government decided to submit it to a parliamentary debate.
    The draft bill now has been sent to Palazzo Chigi, the premier's office, where it will be inserted in the Milleproroghe package of legislation aimed at liberalising the economy and introducing social improvements or inserted in another imminent government package of legislative measures, health ministry officials said.
    Lorenzin noted that Britain has introduced such legislation already with effect from October.
    "Perhaps now also those Italians who didn't understand the danger of passive smoking and the need to protect our children will now understand that it is important to do so," she told ANSA.