Following its second reading on July 5, the private Bill to ban the sale of chewing gum in London has been referred to a Select Committee of the House of Lords.

Proposed by the London Local Authorities, the Bill has already been opposed by the Association of Convenience Stores and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN), which lodged a petition against the proposals with the House of Lords in February.

NFRN legal & parliamentary committee chairman Colin Finch said: “We are working closely with Wrigley’s on this issue and beginning the process of communications with MPs as the ultimate destination of this Bill will be the House of Commons.

“The real issue is not about banning chewing gum full-stop but educating people to dispose of chewing gum in a responsible manner, which this proposed Bill fails to address.”