This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jun/26/how-scotland-was-the-brave-on-smoking-law
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| How Scotland was the brave on smoking law | How Scotland was the brave on smoking law |
| (7 days later) | |
| As well as supporting the 10th anniversary of the smoking ban in enclosed public places being introduced in England (Huge gains from ban on pub smoking hailed, 26 June) recognition needs to be given to the then Scottish executive. Under the then first minister, Jack McConnell, it introduced the smoking, health and social care (Scotland) bill in 2005, which became law the following in March. At the time this was a very politically courageous thing to do in the face of claims about job losses and infringements of human rights. It has probably brought more benefits to Scottish society than virtually any other recent piece of legislation. Without this pioneering initiative, would the later bans in Wales, Northern Ireland and eventually England have been possible? Credit where credit is due – to the Labour-controlled Scottish executive, Jack McConnell and his health secretary, Andy Kerr.Keith HaytonGlasgow | As well as supporting the 10th anniversary of the smoking ban in enclosed public places being introduced in England (Huge gains from ban on pub smoking hailed, 26 June) recognition needs to be given to the then Scottish executive. Under the then first minister, Jack McConnell, it introduced the smoking, health and social care (Scotland) bill in 2005, which became law the following in March. At the time this was a very politically courageous thing to do in the face of claims about job losses and infringements of human rights. It has probably brought more benefits to Scottish society than virtually any other recent piece of legislation. Without this pioneering initiative, would the later bans in Wales, Northern Ireland and eventually England have been possible? Credit where credit is due – to the Labour-controlled Scottish executive, Jack McConnell and his health secretary, Andy Kerr.Keith HaytonGlasgow |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |