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Wednesday, 15 February 2006
MP welcomes vote to ban smoking in public
Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate, voted last night in the third reading of the Government’s Health Bill to bring in a full ban on smoking in all pubs, bars, restaurants and private clubs.

The MP, who is a practising GP and a member of the House of Commons Health Select Committee, has campaigned for a complete ban for many years. Speaking after the debate he said;

“I am absolutely delighted that the Commons has voted to put an end to smoking in all public places. What I find particularly heartening is that so many MPs, from all parties, were prepared to support a complete ban, and ensure that it gained such a decisive majority.”

“I think that the size of the majority reflects the clear change that has taken place in the mood of the public in recent months with regard to smoking in public. The polls indicate that most people now favour a full ban whilst the vast majority of people in Dartford who have written or spoken to me on the subject support the Commons’ decision.”

“Ending smoking in pubs and clubs will make a massive difference to public health in England. It will put an end to the culture of smoking in public places, and make it far easier for smokers to quit. It will also remove one of the main factors which leads people to take up smoking in the first place. The long-term health and economic benefits of this ban, in terms of reducing the incidence of heart disease, lung cancer and a whole range of other conditions and creating a healthier, fitter workforce, are incalculable.”

The decision by the Government to allow MPs a free vote on whether or not to ban smoking in all pubs, bars and private clubs followed a Health Select Committee report that branded Government’s initial plan to introduce a partial ban (which exempted drink only pubs) as ‘unfair, unjust, inefficient and unworkable’.

In its report the Committee concluded that all workers - including bar staff - deserve protection from the dangers of second hand smoke and took the view that a partial ban would undermine the Government’s goal of reducing health inequalities as drink only pubs are concentrated in deprived areas.
 
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© 2008 Dr Howard Stoate - Member of Parliament for Dartford
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