§ Mr. AmosTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the progress of implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleFurther to my hon. Friend's reply of 29 January 1990, it remains the Department's policy to discourage smoking. New guidance is being prepared which brings to the attention of staff the latest research into the dangers of smoking. Non-smoking areas continue to be established in the Department's buildings in response to the wishes of staff. A number of new proposals for such areas are currently under consideration. We are also considering banning smoking in all conference rooms in the Department's buildings.