§ Viscount Simonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their definition of a tobacco-smoke-free workplace, given that passive or involuntary smoke inhalation can trigger asthma attacks, and [HL148]
Whether they have any plans to introduce a public awareness campaign on the dangers of passive smoking; and [HL149]
When people with asthma can expect to be protected from passive smoking at work; and [HL150]
Whether they have any plans to require tobacco manufacturers to provide additional health warnings on cigarette packets about the dangers of passive smoking, including asthma. [HL151]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathA smoke-free workplace is a workplace where smoking is not permitted. We encourage all employers to introduce smoke-free workplaces. We recognise that this is not always going to be possible and encourage in these circumstances other measures to be taken to reduce people's exposure to smoke.
This year the Department of Health is funding local tobacco control alliances across England to carry out projects in close co-operation with local employers to tackle passive smoking and to increase the number of 116WA smoke-free environments. These projects vary in nature from the production of smoke-free guides to pubs and restaurants to the provision of advice and support to managers wishing to introduce policies. We hope that many will be suitable for national application.
The Secretary of State for Health will make and lay before Parliament shortly regulations to transpose into UK law the EU Directive on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products. These regulations will require tobacco products to carry larger and starker health warnings on both the front and back of the packet. A list of warnings to be displayed on cigarette packets has been agreed at Community level and the warnings will be rotated regularly from a list of approved warnings. The dangers of passive smoking are highlighted in the new warnings, which include "Smoking seriously harms you and others around you" and "Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke". Article 11 of the directive requires the European Commission to produce a report on the application of this directive by no later than 31 December 2004. The Government consider that the wording of health warnings may be reviewed in the context of this report.