§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on(a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking. [125169]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyMy Department operates the same policy on smoking as the National Assembly for Wales, which is designed to protect the great majority of staff, who do not smoke, from the effects of smoke, as required by health and safety legislation. Smoking is therefore not permitted in working areas, whether cellular or open plan, and sources of information and advice on stopping smoking are provided to those staff who wish to give up the habit.
My Department only has one building housing about 40 staff who have agreed between themselves that smoking should take place only in certain rooms.