§ Baroness Galeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given, during their discussions with the hospitality industry about the introduction of a public places charter on passive smoking, to any evidence on the effectiveness or otherwise of the protection given against the health hazards of second-hand smoke by ventilation and air cleaning. [HL2184]
§ Baroness AndrewsCompletely smoke-free places are the ideal and we support those businesses which have decided to take that route. We recognise, however, that this is not always going to be possible and we have therefore entered into the agreement with 155WA the hospitality industry for the public places charter, which provides for signage of an establishment's smoking policy in five categories as follows: I. no smoking, 2. smoking allowed throughout, 3. ventilated premises—smoking allowed throughout, 4. ventilated premises with separate area, 5. separate areas.
This provides customers with information enabling them to choose between different establishments which offer reduced exposure to tobacco smoke.