§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Solicitor-General what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105793]
The Solicitor-GeneralThe Law Officers' Departments have different policies on smoking in offices, reflecting the different buildings and the results of locally based decisions. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has a general no smoking policy. Staff may not smoke in their own rooms. The provision of a separate smoking room is a matter for managers to decide locally, taking into account the interest of staff. CPS HQ is in two buildings. In the London office, the number of smoking rooms has been reduced to one and in the York office, there is no separate smoking room. Information about the provision of separate smoking rooms in the CPS's 42 Areas is not available centrally.
The Counselling and Support Service of the CPS advertises the now annual National No Smoking Day (in their in-house publication "Inform") and offer literature to assist anyone wishing to give up smoking.
The Treasury Solicitor's Department has a policy of restricting and confining smoking to clearly defined areas. 544W The Department's Health and Safety Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the policy and will in due course be making recommendations.
The Serious Fraud Office accommodation is non-smoking although a small smoking room is provided. Free health screening checks have recently been made available to all staff and these will make staff more aware of the dangers of smoking.
In the Law Officers' Legal Secretariat smoking is not permitted in any of the meeting rooms or the shared offices. Smoking is restricted to a smoking room. Staff are encouraged and supported in giving up smoking.