Doctors jeer Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt over Government plans

June 29, 2005 - PRESS RELEASE FROM THE BMA

There were cries of "shame" and "not good enough" as Ms Hewitt outlined the proposals to ban smoking in "virtually all" enclosed public places, but with exemptions for pubs not serving and preparing food.

But the Health Secretary, speaking at the British Medical Association's (BMA) annual conference, said she could see a time in the future when all pubs would move toward smoke-free policies.

It is the first time a Secretary of State has addressed the BMA conference, and she was initially given a warm welcome.

John Garner, a GP in Edinburgh, asked Ms Hewitt when England would follow Scotland and the Irish Republic in introducing a total ban in all enclosed areas.

She said: "We are going to move to a ban on smoking in virtually all enclosed public places.

"This will apply to all the NHS by the end of next year, all enclosed workplaces by the end of 2007, with the exception of licensed premises,
and in 2008 will include licensed premises as well."

But Ms Hewitt said after a lengthy consultation they had decided to not to ban smoking in pubs not serving food, with doctors shouting out "rubbish" in response.

She said that it was not an easy policy and there was opposition from the BMA and other health professionals over the exemptions. But she said as public attitudes against smoking grew it was probably only a matter of time
before all pubs moved to become smoke-free.

Ms Hewitt said there had to be some recognition of the fact that smoking was not, and not likely to become, illegal and there should be an element of personal choice involved.