§ Mr. AmosTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provisions are being made in all the offices and other places under his Department's control for the convenience and comfort of non-smokers; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy for non-smokers.
§ Mr. NichollsThe policy of the Employment Department group is to discourage non-smokers from taking up smoking, positively to encourage smokers to give it up or to cut down and to create a no-smoking environment, with facilities for those who wish to smoke, rather than the other way round.
The implementation of smoking policies rests with line management who are encouraged to review the practices in their offices and to consider setting up no-smoking schemes either in individual offices or in larger areas, such as regions. Significant progress is being made and no-smoking schemes already exist, or are in preparation, in a number of locations across the group.