SmokeFree Liverpool sends message to Health Secretary

November 19, 2004 - PRESS RELEASE

Smokefree Liverpool is to send an airborne message to Health Secretary John Reid.

Next Thursday, a representative from the group backing Liverpool's campaign to become a truly smokefree city will be flying to London to submit a petition for a Local Act of Parliament.

Members of the Smokefree Liverpool group - which includes health professionals, the City Council, and the private sector - welcome the White Paper released this week ...but feel that it is not adventurous enough.

It outlined plans to ban smoking in most work places - but to allow pubs which do not serve food to continue as 'smoking pubs', and also to allow private members' clubs to be exempt.

"We welcome the move towards workplaces becoming free of tobacco smoke, but believes the Government has missed an opportunity by not imposing a complete ban in workplaces" said Andy Hull, Chair of Smokefree Liverpool.

"They are in effect saying that it is acceptable for workers in non-food pubs and in private members' clubs to suffer the effects of second hand tobacco smoke - while acknowledging the risks elsewhere.

"This is unfair to workers who have no choice but to work in these environments.

"It seems even more illogical when you look at what has happened in Ireland, which has a 100% ban, and in Scotland where a complete ban is being brought in. If they can both do it, we must ask why England can not."

Liverpool City Council voted overwhelmingly last month to pursue a Local Act of Parliament, which would allow the city to impose its own ban.

As scheduled, the petition supporting the Act is to go to the House of Lords next week. City Council Leader Mike Storey will board the VLM plane 'City of Liverpool' at John Lennon Airport on November 25, bound for London to submit the case.

"We and the City Council have taken legal advice, and we have been told we are entitled to carry on with this course of action - so this is what we will do." said Mr. Hull.

"We don't think the Government will go far enough as yet, so we will press ahead with our campaign to make Liverpool's workplaces totally smokefree as soon as possible - with all the benefits that will bring to the city's workers and those who visit the city."