Smokers promised more help
Smokers are being promised more help to give up smoking as the UK marks World No Tobacco Day for the first time.
But ministers also stood beside their decision to implement only a partial ban on smoking in public places.
While Scotland is pressing ahead for a total ban on smoking in enclosed public places – including all licensed premises – pubs and clubs in England which do not serve food will be granted an exemption.
Speaking to an audience of healthcare professionals Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said that more than a quarter of million people quit smoking through NHS services last year – a 63 per cent increase on 2003 .
Ms Flint stressed that the Government was committed to expanding these services and locating them at supermarkets and pubs in addition to traditional healthcare settings.
She said: “There has been a consistent increase over recent years in the number of people who have given up through the NHS Stop Smoking Services. As well as the 63 per cent increase from 2003 to 2004, there was a 31 per cent increase from 2002 to and a six per cent increase in the number of quitters in 2001 to 2002.”
And speaking on Today Ms Flint said that Government consultations had shown support for a partial ban, and it was important to balance protection with smokers’ rights to “make a choice about their own health”.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said that there was no logic in the proposed exemptions from the ban on smoking in public.
Mr Webb said: “Supporting people who want to give up smoking is very important, but the Government needs to do more to protect people from passive smoking as well.
“We support a ban on smoking in enclosed public places, but we cannot see the logic in excluding pubs which do not serve food.
“Passive smoking is a health risk wherever it happens, and the Government must have the courage of its convictions on this issue.”
