Government downplays smoking ban rumours

Smoking consultation starts Monday

Sunday, 19, Jun 2005 12:00

The Department of Health has downplayed rumours that ministers are poised to stub out smoking in all public places, including all pubs and restaurants.

With the Government to set out its stall on public health betterment in a consultation paper tomorrow, rumours are rife that ministers will follow Scotland's lead in adopting a total ban on smoking in public places, in a beefed up bill to be presented before MPs.

But the DoH said the consultation paper would stay within the parameters of debate set out in the white paper issued in November.

The DoH spokeswoman said: "The consultation being published on Monday by the Department of Health will go no further than the proposals contained in the public health white paper set out last year. It will not contain proposals for a blanket ban."

The idea of a blanket ban has found many supporters. Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, is one of them, saying the middle way option would prove unsatisfactory.

Anti-smoking group ASH said the Government would show real "courage" if it embraced a comprehensive smoking ban "without exemption".

Jim Johnson, Chairman of the British Medical Association, described plans to enforce a total ban as "an enormous step" to improve public health.

On Saturday, a group of Labour backbenchers called for an increase to the legal age for buying cigarettes.