Liverpool conference urges government to introduce nationwide legislation

October 4, 2004 - PRESS RELEASE

Delegates from across the UK and Europe joined forces to push for national legislation on smoking in workplaces, at a conference held in Liverpool today.

The 150 delegates from health organizations and local authorities voted unanimously to back a declaration calling on the Government to introduce national laws.

The declaration said: "Having heard the evidence from New York and Ireland, in order to protect the health and safety of workers and to provide a fair competitive environment for business, the UK Government should without delay introduce national legislation to prohibit smoking in all enclosed workplaces."

The vote came at the end of a conference which had heard from officials in New York, via a satellite link, talking about their experience in going smokefree.

The conference was hosted by Smokefree Liverpool, a coalition of more than two dozen health and private sector organisations.

Project Director Mark Brandreth said: "The conference was a huge success, and the vote at the end showed how important delegates believe it is that there is a level playing field - with the Government taking the lead in protecting workers' health and protecting them from the effects of second hand smoke in the workplace."

Liverpool City Council has already pledged to lead by example in its bid to become the UK's first smokefree city.

Council leader Mike Storey told the conference that tobacco companies would not be used for sponsorship for its status as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

"We will take an ethical stance when deciding who to partner with because the European Capital of Culture title is a celebration of the life of the city... and there are not many things more damaging to life than smoking," he said.

A proposal to promote a local act of Parliament which would restrict smoking in restaurants, pubs, shops, offices and enclosed workplaces will be considered by Liverpool's councillors on the 20th of October. If approved, the city council will petition Parliament to pass a smokefree law for Liverpool.