This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/5359456.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Welsh smoking ban starts in April | Welsh smoking ban starts in April |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A smoking ban in enclosed public spaces will be introduced in Wales on 2 April, before similar laws in England. | |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan announced that it will come into force a month before the assembly election, and at the same time as Northern Ireland. | |
| It will mean no lighting up at work, in pubs or clubs, although there will be some exemptions, such as hotel rooms. | |
| 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 | 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." |
| Opposition parties in the assembly welcomed the news, and 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. | 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' | '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. | "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. | "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 workplaces, 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. |
| Ireland banned smoking in March 2004, and a number of other European countries have followed suit, including Italy, Malta, Norway, Spain and Sweden. | |
| Peter Jones, chairman of the Welsh executive of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, said: "We all know that smoking has a potentially harmful effect on the health and well-being of not only smokers, but also non-smokers through passive smoking". | |
| Mr Jones said community pharmacists offered a free advice service to help smokers give up. |