Chief medic considered resigning over smoking ban
The government’s chief medical officer has said he considered resigning over ministers’ refusal to introduce a full ban on smoking in public places.
Liam Donaldson said ministers had ignored his warning that plans to exempt pubs not serving food and private members’ clubs could increase health inequalities.
“There are some areas where if your advice is ignored and it damages the public health, you would have to consider resignation if you were in my position,” he told the health select committee.
However, he said he had agreed to stay in order to continue championing the case for a full ban on smoking in public places.
Sir Liam’s comments come as the government published details of its consultation into a possible ban, which reveals that the vast majority of the 57,000 responses were in favour of a blanket prohibition.
The Department of Health admitted that the consultation “brought to light the need for further consideration of exemptions”.
Plans for a smoking ban have been highly controversial, and the publication of the health protection bill last month – in which the proposals were contained – was delayed following the cabinet’s inability to agree on whether to press ahead with a full ban.
Health secretary Patricia Hewitt was reportedly in favour of introducing a blanket ban on smoking, but defence secretary John Reid – previously health secretary – was determined that the government stick to its original manifesto pledge of a partial ban.
Ministers now insist that the proposals would protect 99 per cent of the workforce from breathing in other people’s smoke, while still maintaining some degree of choice for those who want to smoke while they have a drink.
Giving evidence to MPs on the issue this morning, Sir Liam said he had warned the government that the proposals left many workers exposed to second-hand smoke, but, for the first time he could remember, they ignored his advice.
“In the seven years I have been in post, this is the first situation I have encountered in which it has happened. It put me in a difficult position and I have had to think hard about what I want to do about that position,” he said.
However, Sir Liam said that he came to the conclusion that he was more likely to affect policy on smoking if he stayed in his job, and continued speaking out against it in public – something he said was “unprecedented” for someone in his position.
He said he believed a full ban would be introduced soon, adding: “My feeling is that this will eventually come, and it is more likely to come if I stay in my post and continue to champion it.”
The health bill will receive its second reading in the House of Commons on November 29th, before going to committee in December. If passed, it would be introduced in the summer of 2007.
