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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Date set for England smoking ban | Date set for England smoking ban |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Smoking in enclosed public places will be banned in England from 1 July next year, the government has announced. | Smoking in enclosed public places will be banned in England from 1 July next year, the government has announced. |
| The ban covers virtually all enclosed public places including offices, factories, pubs and bars, but not outdoors or in private homes. | The ban covers virtually all enclosed public places including offices, factories, pubs and bars, but not outdoors or in private homes. |
| It follows similar bans in the Irish Republic and Scotland - a ban in Wales starts on 2 April. | It follows similar bans in the Irish Republic and Scotland - a ban in Wales starts on 2 April. |
| Ministers say it will protect everyone from passive smoking, but opponents say the total ban is "draconian". | Ministers say it will protect everyone from passive smoking, but opponents say the total ban is "draconian". |
| From 1 July pubs and restaurants will have to display prominent "no smoking" signs around their premises. | From 1 July pubs and restaurants will have to display prominent "no smoking" signs around their premises. |
| Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the ban was a "huge step forward" which would save thousands of people's lives. | Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the ban was a "huge step forward" which would save thousands of people's lives. |
| The cost of implementing the ban has been estimated at about £50m. | The cost of implementing the ban has been estimated at about £50m. |
| Medical evidence | Medical evidence |
| Ms Hewitt said the ban would protect everyone from second-hand smoke, while making it easier for smokers to quit. | Ms Hewitt said the ban would protect everyone from second-hand smoke, while making it easier for smokers to quit. |
| "The scientific and medical evidence is clear - second-hand smoke kills, causing a range of serious medical conditions including lung cancer, heart disease, and sudden infant death syndrome," she said. | "The scientific and medical evidence is clear - second-hand smoke kills, causing a range of serious medical conditions including lung cancer, heart disease, and sudden infant death syndrome," she said. |
| "This legislation will help to prevent the unnecessary deaths caused every year from second-hand smoke, and recognises that there is absolutely no safe level of exposure." | "This legislation will help to prevent the unnecessary deaths caused every year from second-hand smoke, and recognises that there is absolutely no safe level of exposure." |
| SMOKING BANS Irish Republic: March 2004Scotland: March 2006Northern Ireland: April 2007Wales: April 2007England: July 2007 | |
| The government predicts about 600,000 people will give up smoking as a result of the law change. | The government predicts about 600,000 people will give up smoking as a result of the law change. |
| The news was welcomed by health campaigners. Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: "This is a victory for all those of us who have campaigned so vigorously to improve public health." | The news was welcomed by health campaigners. Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: "This is a victory for all those of us who have campaigned so vigorously to improve public health." |
| She said it would reduce the death toll linked to smoking and that tens of thousands of people with lung disease would once again be able to visit pubs and restaurants. | She said it would reduce the death toll linked to smoking and that tens of thousands of people with lung disease would once again be able to visit pubs and restaurants. |
| Cancer Research UK chief, Prof Alex Markham, said 1 July would be an "historic day". | Cancer Research UK chief, Prof Alex Markham, said 1 July would be an "historic day". |
| "Making workplaces and enclosed public places smoke free will bring about some of the most significant health improvements the country has seen in decades," he said. | "Making workplaces and enclosed public places smoke free will bring about some of the most significant health improvements the country has seen in decades," he said. |
| [It's] typical of a government that seems determined to interfere in every aspect of our daily lives Simon Clark,Forest lobby group Send us your comments | [It's] typical of a government that seems determined to interfere in every aspect of our daily lives Simon Clark,Forest lobby group Send us your comments |
| British Beer and Pub Association boss, Rob Hayward, welcomed the announcement, saying it gave businesses "greater clarity" and would allow them to prepare their customers for the changes. | British Beer and Pub Association boss, Rob Hayward, welcomed the announcement, saying it gave businesses "greater clarity" and would allow them to prepare their customers for the changes. |
| The Cabinet originally proposed prohibiting smoking only in pubs serving food, in line with Labour's election manifesto - but MPs eventually backed a total ban in enclosed public spaces in a free vote. | The Cabinet originally proposed prohibiting smoking only in pubs serving food, in line with Labour's election manifesto - but MPs eventually backed a total ban in enclosed public spaces in a free vote. |
| Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said that decision had been "draconian". | Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said that decision had been "draconian". |
| "From July next year it will not only be illegal to smoke in every pub, club and bar in the country, it will also be impossible to set up a private club run by smokers for smokers," he said. | "From July next year it will not only be illegal to smoke in every pub, club and bar in the country, it will also be impossible to set up a private club run by smokers for smokers," he said. |
| "That's an amazing state of affairs but typical of a government that seems determined to interfere in every aspect of our daily lives." | "That's an amazing state of affairs but typical of a government that seems determined to interfere in every aspect of our daily lives." |
| The health secretary is also launching a Smokefree England campaign, to advise England's 3.7m businesses to prepare for the ban. | The health secretary is also launching a Smokefree England campaign, to advise England's 3.7m businesses to prepare for the ban. |