Health Authority Appeals to MP for Smoking Ban

11.50.34am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 30th Jan 2006

The Borough's NHS Primary Care Trust has appealed to Vincent Cable MP to support a full ban on smoking in public places when the Health Bill comes before Parliament shortly.

The Borough's Director of Public Health (Houda Al Sharifi) has urged Vincent Cable to oppose a partial ban and to support a total ban.

Vincent Cable said: "I support the move to outlaw smoking in public places since the rights of the individual to smoke have to be set against the damage to others through passive smoking. As a lifetime non-smoker, the issue does not present me with any conflicts of interest. I think there is a genuine dilemma in respect of private clubs or bar rooms where both members and staff are consenting adults. But, overall, the complexities of a partial ban would probably make such a compromise unworkable. I shall listen to the arguments in Parliament but my instincts are to support the full ban."