§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether non-smokers, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, face risks from passive smoking; and what plans they have to change the situation, and [HL195]
Further to the Smoking Kills White Paper in 1998, when they plan to implement the approved code of practice, or any other measure that would effectively ban smoking in workplaces. [HL199]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathPassive smoking is dangerous, particularly to those suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions. We encourage all employers to introduce smoke-free work places. We recognise that this is not always going to be possible and encourage in these circumstances other measures to be taken to reduce people's exposure to smoke.
This year the Department of Health is funding local tobacco control alliances across England to carry out projects in close co-operation with local employers to tackle passive smoking and to increase the number of smoke-free environments. These projects vary in nature from the production of smoke free guides to pubs and restaurants to the provision of advice and support to managers wishing to introduce policies. We hope that many will be suitable for national application.
The Secretary of State for Health will make and lay before Parliament shortly regulations to transpose into United Kingdom law the European Union Directive on the Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco Products. These regulations will require 13WA tobacco products to carry larger and starker health warnings, on both the front and back of the packet. A list of warnings to be displayed on cigarette packets has been agreed at Community level and the warnings will be rotated regularly from a list of approved warnings. The dangers of passive smoking are highlighted in the new warnings which include, "Smoking seriously harms you and others around you", and, "Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke." Article 11 of the directive requires the European Commission to produce a report on the application of this directive by no later than 31 December 2004. The Government consider that the wording of health warnings may be reviewed in the context of this report.