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MPs back blanket smoking ban

Date published: 15/02/2006

MPs have voted to extend a smoking ban in public places to all pubs and private clubs in England. The free vote in the House of Commons went 384 to 184 in the government's favour last night to remove the exemption of private members' clubs and establishments that serve food. MPs also voted to ban smoking in workplaces, including 106,000 licensed premises.

Health secretary Patricia Hewitt told MPs: "It is right to legislate to ban smoking." She said she was "absolutely delighted", describing the victory as "a historic day" for public health. "This is going to save thousands of people's lives."

England joins Ireland, Italy, Norway and nine US states in banning smoking in public places. Peter Hollins, director general of the British Heart Foundation, said the vote was "a landmark victory" for the public health, which would save the lives of many people. Scotland's devolved government has already approved smoking restrictions that come into effect on March 26th.

Northern Ireland will adopt a ban in April 2007, while the health bill has provisions to allow the Wales assembly to vote on a ban. The health department estimates the smoking ban in England will save ?3.8 billion. The prime minister, chancellor Gordon Brown and home secretary Charles Clarke all voted for a blanket ban. But Tony Blair's deputy John Prescott, culture secretary Tessa Jowell, defence secretary John Reid and education secretary Ruth Kelly opposed it. Simon Clark, director of smoking support group Forest, said the decision was "a double whammy" from "an unnecessary and illiberal piece of legislation" that denies freedom of choice to millions of people. The health bill also allows the government to increase the age for buying cigarettes, probably from 16 to 18.

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