Measures to ban smoking in public places will have to be put into place by the summer of 2007 rather than the end of 2008 as originally proposed. 

This detail emerged from part one of the Health Bill, which is being debated today. 

Its publication yesterday followed a week of in-fighting between Government ministers, which saw the possibility of pubs being allowed to operate sealed smoking rooms raised, and then dashed.

The plans to outlaw smoking in public places, including restaurants and pubs that prepare and serve food, mean that most workplaces will be smoke-free zones by mid-2007, compared with just 51% at present, said Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. 

But pubs that do not serve food and private members clubs will be exempt from the ban, although smoking will not be allowed at the bar. 

However, staff that work in these premises will still be subjected to the dangers of second-hand smoke. 

The Bill does not yet define what is meant by food and whether or not it encompasses snacks. The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers and the British Beer and Pub Association do not expect this point to be clarified before the close of the three-month consultation on how to protect staff in workplaces that allow customers to light up.

Many pubs fearful of losing trade to exempted premises have thought of converting themselves into private members clubs to circumvent the ban. 

However, the definition laid out in the Health Bill, which is taken from the Licensing Act 2003, would appear to block this option as private clubs must provide alcohol and other entertainments other than for profit. 

It refers to private members clubs as British Legion, working men’s or cricket and rugby clubs. 

The Bill also gives the Welsh Assembly, which was the first to vote for a total ban, the green light to pursue its own smoking policy.

By Angela Frewin

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