Cross party group calls for smoking ban

Friday, 8 October 2004 12:00 AM

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health has unanimously called for the UK government to introduce a ban on smoking in public places.

The call comes after members of the group returned from a fact finding mission to Ireland where a smoking ban in public places has been in operation since March and has been hailed as a great success.

Anti-smoking group ASH claims that there is overwhelming support for the new law, which has a high compliance rate. They also claim that 7000 people have stopped smoking since the law came into effect. Hospitality groups, however, argue the ban has hurt their business and smoking groups claim it is an infringement of civil liberties.

The all party group is seeking a meeting with Health Secretary John Reid, and is urging him to include legislation on smokefree places in the Public Health White Paper, which is expected in November.

Chairman of the all party group, David Taylor, said: "It was inspirational to meet Micheal Martin, the former Irish health minister, who brought in their smokefree law. When he made the commitment to bring it in he said 'I have no choice. There is no moral option open to me other than to take action. We say to John Reid that the time has come for him to make the moral choice too."

The possibility of introducing a ban on smoking in public places has risen up the political agenda in the past year from being a niche concern to a key issue. The Scottish Executive has recently completed a consultation exercise on the possibility of a ban. The UK government is yet to make any definitive statements on the issue, but is looking at the issue closely.

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