New data has put the government under more pressure to back a ban on workplace smoking.

Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) revealed on Friday that more than two million people in Britain are routinely exposed to tobacco smoke at work.

The campaigners used the Labour Force Survey for 2003 and the National Statistics Omnibus Survey to show that a further 10 million employees work in buildings where smoking is allowed somewhere on the premises.

The figures added to growing calls for ministers to follow the Irish example and legislate to protect staff.

Earlier this week Cardiff's deputy health minister told ePolitix.com that the UK would introduce a ban soon, while Scotland's first minister Jack McConnell said he has become increasingly convinced that Ireland did the right thing in outlawing smoking in all public places.

Ministers are currently consulting on the whole range of its public health policies with the momentum moving towards some form of restriction being included in Labour's next general election manifesto.

Responsibility

CIEH chief executive Graham Jukes said: "All the statistics and evidence supports the need to bring an end to smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public places.

"Smoking kills not only smokers but also hundreds of people who are forced to breathe second-hand tobacco pollution simply because of where they work.

"This is one of the UK's most significant public health issues and the government must show leadership by introducing a national prohibition on workplace smoking."

Ash director Deborah Arnott added that central and local government need to take responsibility for the issue.

"It is time for central government to commit itself to a leadership role by introducing a total workplace ban," she said.

"But even in the absence of central government action, there is a lot that local councils can and should be doing to move towards smoke-free workplaces and public places.

"Ash will be working with the CIEH and local councils across the UK to introduce more and more no smoking policies in workplaces and enclosed public places."