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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Welsh smoking ban starts in April | Welsh smoking ban starts in April |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A smoking ban in enclosed public spaces will be introduced in Wales next April, before similar laws in England, First Minister Rhodri Morgan has announced. | A smoking ban in enclosed public spaces will be introduced in Wales next April, before similar laws in England, First Minister Rhodri Morgan has announced. |
| The ban will begin on 2 April, a month before the assembly election, and at the same time as Northern Ireland. | The ban will begin on 2 April, a month before the assembly election, and at the same time as Northern Ireland. |
| A smoking ban will start in England on a so far unspecified date next summer. A ban already exists in Scotland. | A smoking ban will start in England on a so far unspecified date next summer. A ban already exists in Scotland. |
| AMs voted for a ban in 2003, but could not change the law until this year's Health Act setting out England's ban. | AMs voted for a ban in 2003, but could not change the law until this year's Health Act setting out England's ban. |
| The draft legislation is currently out to consultation, covering issues such as the definition of "enclosed," possible exemptions and how the ban will be enforced. | The draft legislation is currently out to consultation, covering issues such as the definition of "enclosed," possible exemptions and how the ban will be enforced. |
| The consultation ends next month. | The consultation ends next month. |
| This is a comprehensive ban in all public places throughout Wales and that would include workplaces, pubs and working men's clubs Health Minister Brian Gibbons | |
| Mr Morgan said: "The risks of second-hand smoke have been known for some time. | Mr Morgan said: "The risks of second-hand smoke have been known for some time. |
| "This is why the National Assembly voted in 2003 to seek powers to ban smoking in enclosed public places. This is now becoming a reality. | "This is why the National Assembly voted in 2003 to seek powers to ban smoking in enclosed public places. This is now becoming a reality. |
| "If all the legislation goes through assembly procedures as expected Wales will have a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places from 2 April, 2007." | "If all the legislation goes through assembly procedures as expected Wales will have a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places from 2 April, 2007." |
| The assembly government will also run a campaign to raise awareness of the risks of second-hand smoke. | The assembly government will also run a campaign to raise awareness of the risks of second-hand smoke. |
| Health Minister Brian Gibbons said the assembly government was introducing the ban as soon as possible to improve the quality of health of people in Wales. | |
| 'Protect the public' | |
| "Any delay once we have this information and the legislative powers I think will reflect very badly on any government's commitment to promoting the health and well-being of its population," Dr Gibbons said. | |
| "There will be some exemptions - for example, in hotel rooms and some areas that would effectively be regarded as people's homes. | |
| "But I think the headline message is that this is a comprehensive ban in all public places throughout Wales, and that would include work laces, pubs and workingmen's clubs, to use that term." | |
| Chief medical officer for Wales Tony Jewell said the ban would avert more than 400 deaths a year in Wales from lung cancer, chronic heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease. | Chief medical officer for Wales Tony Jewell said the ban would avert more than 400 deaths a year in Wales from lung cancer, chronic heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease. |
| "By introducing this legislation we can reduce the effects of second-hand smoke and protect the public and workers from the harmful effects," he said. | "By introducing this legislation we can reduce the effects of second-hand smoke and protect the public and workers from the harmful effects," he said. |
| Opposition parties in the assembly also welcomed the ban. |