HL Deb 16 July 2004 vol 663 c161WA
Baroness Wilkins

asked the Chairman of Committees:

What requests have been made by representatives of the GMB, the Public and Commercial Services and the Prospect trade unions, on behalf of staff employed in the House of Lords, to ban smoking in areas where staff are working. [HL3857]

The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara):

The GMB, the Public and Commercial Services and the Prospect trade unions have recently written a joint letter to the Head of Human Resources to raise concerns that smoking is permitted in parts of the House of Lords where their members work. In particular, they requested that proposals should be brought forward to ban smoking in areas where staff are working. A meeting is being arranged with the unions to discuss this matter further.

Baroness Wilkins

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Whether any of the House of Lords domestic committees have discussed the dangers of secondary or passive smoking as it affects staff employed in the House of Lords. [HL3858]

The Chairman of Committees:

The House of Lords Offices Committee, following consultation with its sub-committees, discussed smoking policy in March 2001. These discussions took note of the effect of secondary or passive smoking on staff. The resulting policy was agreed by the House on 21 March 2001.

Following recent representations by Members, it is expected that smoking policy, including the effect of passive smoking on staff, will be discussed at the next meeting of the Administration and Works Committee. The Refreshment Committee briefly discussed the sale of cigarettes in relation to smoking policy in Refreshment Department outlets at its meeting on 14 July, but deferred any decisions pending further discussion of the House-wide smoking policy.