Smoking ban plans to be unveiled
The Government is today expected to announce plans to ban smoking in every pub, cafe and restaurant in the country that serves food.
Smoking would also be banned in enclosed spaces such as offices, but would be permitted in private clubs if members voted to allow smoking, and in pubs that do not serve prepared food.
The plans are part of a wide-ranging White Paper on public health, which will also cover the growing problems of obesity, sexually transmitted infections and poor workplace conditions.
Last week the Scottish Executive announced a blanket ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces from 2006.
The White Paper, to be unveiled by the Health Secretary John Reid, is also expected to set out tougher laws on advertising unhealthy food before the nine o’clock watershed.
A traffic light system telling shoppers about the salt, fat and sugar content of the food they are buying could also figure.
But it is the plans to ban smoking that are likely to prompt the most debate.
Deborah Arnott, director of Action on Smoking and Health, urged Dr Reid to deliver an unflinching message on smoking in public places.
“[If Dr Reid is] too scared to do what is now required – and end smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public places – then they must promise to hold a free vote on the issue in the first session of the next parliament and allow MPs to do the job for them”.
Dr Reid will make a statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon.
