Smoking Policy: House of Lords Refreshment Department

HL Deb 18 May 1999 vol 601 c17WA

Lord Peston

asked the Chairman of Committees:

What is the current smoking policy of the House of Lords Refreshment Department. [HL2525]

The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)

The Refreshment Department keeps smoking policy in the various outlets of the Refreshment Department under regular review. Policy was last revised in 1997. The present position may be summarised as follows:

Peers Dining Room (Guest Dining Room)—No smoking at lunchtime until after 1.30 p.m. No smoking at dinner until after 9 p.m.

Peers Dining Room (Long Table)—No smoking at lunchtime. No restriction at dinner.

Bishops' Bar Coffee Room—No smoking at any time.

Bishops' Bar and Guest Room Bar—No restriction.

Home Room—No smoking at lunchtime. No restriction at dinner.

Barry Room—No restriction.

In addition, the sub-committee has approved the practice whereby managers, exercising their discretion, allocate tables at the edges of the dinning rooms to regular smokers (who are usually well known to them) at those times when smoking is allowed and nuisance might otherwise be caused to non-smoking customers.