§ Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ When they will require all hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation to be regarded as non-smoking except where specifically advertised; and [HL3978]
§ Whether they have proposals to require all forms of public transport and related property with public access to be non-smoking [HL3974]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Government have no plans to make all hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation and all forms of public transport and related property with public access to be non-smoking. Smoking policies are the responsibility of managers and providers of facilities. The Government hope and expect that they, like the licensed hospitality industry, will increase the availability of facilities for non-smokers.
The Government have reached agreement with representatives of the licensed hospitality trade—pubs, restaurants and hotels—on the need for continuing improvement in the provision of non-smoking facilities over the coming years. The industry has developed a Public Places Charter which will 91WA ensure that consumers are better able to choose whether to eat, drink or socialise in smoky atmospheres.
The Health and Safety Commission's recent announcement that it favours introducing an approved code of practice on passive smoking at work is aimed at protecting the welfare of employees from environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace.