§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what negotiations have taken place with trade unions about smoking in the Department of Health and Social Security offices;
(2) what protection from tobacco smoke is offered to Department of Health and Social Security employees:
(3) what is his Department's policy with regard to smoking in Department of Health and Social Security offices by (a) the general public and (b) Department of Health and Social Security employees.
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§ Mr. LyellIt has been the Department's policy, since 1979, to discourage the general public from smoking within its offices by the use of suitable signs and posters. Staff are generally allowed to smoke at their place of work, but must not do so whilst attending to members of the public, nor in areas of high fire risk. Staff are also asked not to smoke in lifts and corridors. For the protection of staff from tobacco smoke, local management throughout the Department have been encouraged to liaise with their trade unions with the aim of prohibiting, or limiting, smoking in staff restaurants and discouraging smoking at conferences and meetings.
In view of the growing concern about the hazards of tobacco smoking, management and the Departmental trade union side have agreed to form a joint working party to review the policy on smoking. Work on this review has already begun.