Smoking

HC Deb 19 December 1997 vol 303 cc344-5W

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) improvement notices, (b) prohibition notices and (c) prosecutions the HSE has initiated in each of the last three years in relation to the hazards of (i) smoking and (ii) passive smoking. [20124]

Angela Eagle

There were no legal proceedings taken by HSE's Field Operations Directorate in each of the last three years in relation to the hazards of (i) smoking and (ii) passive smoking in the workplace.

There were no notices issued in 1996–97¹ in relation to the hazards of smoking and passive smoking. The information is not available for the two preceding years.

HSE Inspectors are asked to promote the development of workplace smoking policies, where appropriate, to reduce employees' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. This approach will be reviewed once new evidence on the risks of passive smoking has been considered further. ¹Figures for 1996–97 are provisional.