Smoking e-cigarettes in public could be banned in Wales

Welsh Government proposals to restrict the use of electronic cigarettes has raised questions by doctors and campaigners.

The idea is one of a raft of health measures put forward in a white paper published today.

As part of the plans, the devices would be banned from enclosed public spaces.

But not all the proposals have gone down well, with many saying that smokers could be driven back to real cigarettes if the electronic alternative becomes less accepted.

The proposals came on the day the NHS in Wales once again came under attack by David Cameron in Prime Ministers' Questions.

For all the analysis and reaction to the proposals, click on the video.

Wales' Chief Medical Officer Dr Ruth Hussey spoke to ITV News about why she supports a ban on using e-cigarettes in public places.

More: Health Minister quizzed over evidence for planned e-cigarette ban

Doctors and campaigners have questioned Welsh Government proposals to restrict the use of electronic cigarettes.

The man behind the plans is Health Minister Mark Drakeford, who launched the White Paper at the Millennium Stadium earlier.

Our Health and Social Affairs Correspondent Rob Osborne caught up with him.

More: Your views on a ban on using e-cigarettes in public

Join the debate on our Facebook page, or tweet us @ITVWales

Helen Jones Evans - "I'm on the e-cig... they are brill. It's not smoke coming out of it, it's vapour!

Kasey Turner - "They should be banned the same as normal cigarettes are. If you want to puff on one then go outside to do it."

Dave Rees - "Until they prove the effects of harm to the user and people in the circle of users then I think it's out of order as these e cigs do help wean people off the real cigs."

More: Health Minister says e-cigarettes 'could normalise smoking behaviour'

As the Welsh government publish their proposals for new laws to improve the health of the nation, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ruth Hussey, has praised the focus on tackling smoking.

As well as introducing measures to deal with alcohol misuse and obesity, other proposals include a ban on smoking e-cigarettes in public places and stiffer penalties for retails who sell cigarettes to under 18s:

Wales' Health Minister Mark Drakeford will introduce a White Paper later, setting out a number of new law proposals to tackle some of Wales' major public health challenges.

His proposals include a minimum price for alcohol of 50p per unit, and a restriction on the use of e-cigarettes in public places.

New measures to address some of Wales’ major public health challenges, including high levels of drinking and smoking, are being put forward by the Welsh Government today.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford has published a White Paper, setting out a number of radical proposals including:

• A minimum price for alcohol of 50p per unit

• A restriction on the use of e-cigarettes in public places

• Introducing a 'Tobacco Retailers' Register', requiring businesses to inform enforcement authorities if they intend to sell tobacco, with stiffer penalties for those which sell to under 18s.

Speaking on the seventh anniversary of the introduction of the smoking ban in Wales, Mr Drakeford said,

"Taking concerted, collective action to address public health concerns remains one of the most powerful contributions any government can make to the welfare and wellbeing of its population."

If these new laws come into force, Wales will become the first place in the UK to place a restriction on smoking e-cigarettes.

The plans will be released by Mark Drakeford today, before being consulted over.

The consultation will close on Tuesday, June 24th.