SMOKING IN THE WORKPLACE

Early day motion 866, tabled 11 March 2003 by John Robertson (Labour). Signed by 48 members.

That this House congratulates the Government of the Republic of Ireland on introducing a total ban on smoking in the workplace, including restaurants and pubs, from January 2004 and the Norwegian Government on proposing to ban smoking in public places from January 2004; notes that the BMA report Towards Smoke-free Public Places published in November 2002 concluded that 1,000 people die as a result of passive smoking every year in the UK and that there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke; and calls upon the UK Government to join those countries such as Finland, South Africa and Thailand and now the Republic of Ireland and Norway with successful smokefree policies by legislating urgently to ban smoking in public places.

Signatures by party: Labour 24, Liberal Democrat 10, Labour/Co-operative 7, Scottish National Party 3, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.