§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the public health risks caused by individuals spitting in public places; [58183]
(2) if he will introduce measures to eradicate spitting in public places; and if he will make a statement. [58182]
§ Ms JowellThe Department has no plans to introduce measures to eradicate spitting in public places.
Whilst spitting is an anti-social and disagreeable habit, it is very unlikely that diseases are spread via this route. Tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases are spread through breathing infected aerosolised droplets in the air, which are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Since tuberculosis and other diseases are unlikely to be spread by spitting, measures aimed at eradicating spitting are unlikely to have any effect on the spread of disease.