Smoke-free public places in Wales a step closer
05 Jul 2005
Smoke-free public places in Wales are a step closer today as Health Minister Brian Gibbons gave his response to the recommendations of the ad-hoc Committee on the matter.
The Minister announced that the Assembly Government has accepted all the recommendations of the Committee and he also outlined what will happen next.
Brian Gibbons said: "Smoking is the major preventable cause of illness and premature death in Wales - causing around 6,000 deaths each year. Second-hand smoke contributes to over 400 deaths each year. Adult non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a substantially increased risk of lung cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory disease. Second-hand smoke is a serious public health risk that needs to be addressed. This will have health benefits for both smokers and non-smokers.
"Those are the facts, and we must act on them. That is why I have accepted all the Committee’s recommendations. I fully accept the arguments put forward by the Committee for a comprehensive ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places.
"In coming to this conclusion I have taken particular note of the need to ensure that all workers are protected from second-hand smoke, including workers in the hospitality sector, many of whom currently have a particularly heavy risk of exposure. Pubs, bars and restaurants are areas of particular risk for workers and customers. If we are serious about protecting public health then they must be included in any proposed ban. Research shows that customers, including smokers, quickly accept smoke-free as the norm and that smoke-free areas discourage people from taking up smoking.
"The Westminster Government has signalled its intention to enable us in Wales to make our own decisions on this issue. The next steps will be the Health Improvement and Protection Bill going into Parliament for its first reading, which is likely to be in the Autumn. Once the Bill receives Royal Assent, we will carry out a consultation on draft regulations for Wales. In the meantime we will be strengthening smoking cessation services, developing a public awareness campaign and holding discussions with key stakeholders on implementation of the ban.
"In Wales we took the historic vote to ban smoking in public places. We will soon have the powers to implement that ban and we are pressing ahead. The experience in Ireland and New York, for example, show that this is the right thing to do."
