Smoking in Public Places

HL Deb 13 April 2000 vol 612 cc67-8WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to reduce the number of deaths in Northern Ireland related to smoking by encouraging organisations to ban smoking by employees and the public in areas over which they have control. [HL1882]

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

The Government do not believe that a prescriptive approach to smoking in public places and in the workplace represents the most effective way of addressing the problem. A comprehensive government strategy to tackle smoking across the United Kingdom is set out in the White PaperSmoking Kills, which was published in December 1998. With regard to smoking in the workplace, a new code of practice which will define the kind of smoking policies employers need to operate in order to comply with existing health and safety legislation is currently under consideration.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is discussing with the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade the provision of smoke-free facilities in licensed premises. A charter on smoking in public places is expected to be launched before the summer.