§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service by what date arrangements will be made for non-smoking members of the Civil Service to work in conditions free from tobacco smoke.
§ Mr. LuceIt is for individual Departments to determine what arrangements they wish to make to allow non-smoking civil servants to work in conditions free from tobacco smoke, and when they wish to introduce such arrangements. The Government's policy on smoking in the Civil Service aims to create a non-smoking environment, with facilities for those who wish to smoke.
An increasing number of Departments have made steady progress in establishing smoke-free areas in their premises. My own Department, the Cabinet Office, has already begun to introduce a no-smoking scheme. We are always keen to share the lessons learnt from our experience and publicise the initiatives taken by others.