In 1694, the Parliament of England passed a resolution banning smoking in the House of Commons chamber and in committee rooms.[3] Following this, members still wished to take tobacco so snuff was used as a tolerated alternative to smoking as attributed to Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice.[4] In 1941, the House of Commons chamber was destroyed by a German bomb on the Palace of Westminster. The current parliamentary snuff box was created using timber from the destroyed chamber's door frame with a silver plate listing all the names of the Principal Doorkeepers since 1943 screwed onto the lid.[5][1] The responsibility for maintaining the parliamentary snuff box lies with the Principal Doorkeeper who stocks the box with snuff paid for with his own money.[1]
Attention
Until the 2010s, the rights of MPs to have free snuff was a little known tradition of the House of Commons. A Freedom of Information request in 2010 confirmed the existence of the tradition and that it was filled with snuff chosen by the Principal Doorkeeper which he selected from a local tobacconist.[5] The request did not reveal which members took advantage of the free snuff privilege as the last recorded instance of an MP taking snuff was in 1989 when 1.5 ounces (43 g) was taken at a cost of 99p.[4]
In 2012, the parliamentary snuff box was mentioned in a debate by the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas who criticised the parliamentary snuff box for being outdated.[2] The Conservative Party MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti, also wrote a written question about how much had been used in the previous decade. The response was that there were no known users of the parliamentary snuff box.[2] It was also noted that while under the Health Act 2006 it is illegal to give out free tobacco in the United Kingdom, Parliament is exempt from this as the Palace of Westminster is a royal palace and therefore legally exempt from the legislation.[2]
^ abcMcSmith, Andy (21 October 2013). "Our Man in Westminster: Perk rarely used by MPs that's not to be sneezed at". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
^ abcdFrancis, Sam (5 November 2013). "The nose habit: Should MPs snuff it out?". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
^"Resolution banning smoking in the House of Commons". UK Parliament. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
^ ab. The Parliamentary Review. 14 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
^ abCastle, Bob (2 July 2010). "Snuff – a Freedom of Information request to House of Commons". WhatDoTheyKnow. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
January 29, 2023
parliamentary, snuff, parliamentary, snuff, wooden, snuff, door, house, commons, united, kingdom, where, snuff, stored, members, parliament, originated, after, 1694, when, smoking, banned, house, commons, responsibility, principal, doorkeeper, ensure, kept, st. The parliamentary snuff box is a wooden snuff box at the door of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom where snuff is stored for use by Members of Parliament It originated after 1694 when smoking was banned in the House of Commons 1 It is the responsibility of the Principal Doorkeeper to ensure it is kept stocked 2 Contents 1 History 2 Attention 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory EditIn 1694 the Parliament of England passed a resolution banning smoking in the House of Commons chamber and in committee rooms 3 Following this members still wished to take tobacco so snuff was used as a tolerated alternative to smoking as attributed to Erskine May Parliamentary Practice 4 In 1941 the House of Commons chamber was destroyed by a German bomb on the Palace of Westminster The current parliamentary snuff box was created using timber from the destroyed chamber s door frame with a silver plate listing all the names of the Principal Doorkeepers since 1943 screwed onto the lid 5 1 The responsibility for maintaining the parliamentary snuff box lies with the Principal Doorkeeper who stocks the box with snuff paid for with his own money 1 Attention EditUntil the 2010s the rights of MPs to have free snuff was a little known tradition of the House of Commons A Freedom of Information request in 2010 confirmed the existence of the tradition and that it was filled with snuff chosen by the Principal Doorkeeper which he selected from a local tobacconist 5 The request did not reveal which members took advantage of the free snuff privilege as the last recorded instance of an MP taking snuff was in 1989 when 1 5 ounces 43 g was taken at a cost of 99p 4 In 2012 the parliamentary snuff box was mentioned in a debate by the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion Caroline Lucas who criticised the parliamentary snuff box for being outdated 2 The Conservative Party MP for Gillingham and Rainham Rehman Chishti also wrote a written question about how much had been used in the previous decade The response was that there were no known users of the parliamentary snuff box 2 It was also noted that while under the Health Act 2006 it is illegal to give out free tobacco in the United Kingdom Parliament is exempt from this as the Palace of Westminster is a royal palace and therefore legally exempt from the legislation 2 See also EditCandy Desk Presidential M amp M sReferences Edit a b c McSmith Andy 21 October 2013 Our Man in Westminster Perk rarely used by MPs that s not to be sneezed at The Independent Archived from the original on 25 May 2022 Retrieved 3 January 2019 a b c d Francis Sam 5 November 2013 The nose habit Should MPs snuff it out BBC News Retrieved 3 January 2019 Resolution banning smoking in the House of Commons UK Parliament 9 May 2012 Retrieved 29 December 2021 a b Snuff Said The Parliamentary Review 14 September 2018 Archived from the original on 7 April 2019 Retrieved 3 January 2019 a b Castle Bob 2 July 2010 Snuff a Freedom of Information request to House of Commons WhatDoTheyKnow Retrieved 3 January 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parliamentary snuff box amp oldid 1089834802, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
