Daily roundup 30 September: Smoking in cars, education, and children's centres

A new law prohibiting people from smoking in cars when children are present will come into force tomorrow. The London Evening Standard reports the law change aims to protect young people from the effects of second-hand smoke. Motorists caught breaking it could be hit with a £50 fixed penalty.


Just a third of parents in England understand government changes to education, a survey has found. The BBC reports that a poll of 1,000 parents by parent teacher umbrella group PTA UK also found 82 per cent of parents do not think the government listens to them about their children’s education.


Hounslow Council is to hold public meetings with parents and carers to discuss proposals to reshape services for under-fives. Get West London reports the proposals would see just four of the borough's remaining 14 children's centres continuing to offer their current services full time.


New powers that would allow police to search young people for alcohol could be introduced in Scotland following a public consultation. The Scotsman reports that members of the Scottish parliament have passed an amendment that will allow for legislation to stop and search children under the age of 18 for alcohol when police have a “reasonable suspicion”.


A £600,000 a year children’s home in Leicestershire that is occupied by two 16-year-olds, is set to be closed. The Leicester Mercury reports the home has places for seven young people, but Leicestershire County Council believes it would be cheaper and better to move the two young people in with specialist foster families.