John Reid is set to come under strong pressure to introduce a smoking ban in England and Wales following the announcement that Scotland will become smoke-free by 2006.

The hardline stance taken by Scottish ministers will set the Edinburgh-based Executive at odds with the UK government.

Jack McConnell intends to push through a ban in all areas except private homes. That means a ban in all pubs, clubs and restaurants.

But the UK government appears set to stop short of pushing through an outright ban when it reveals its plans in a public health white paper later this month.

Reid remains unpersuaded that the public would support a total ban on smoking in public.

He fears it could provoke a backlash in the run up to the next general election and appears set to call for a scheme under which premises can opt out of a smoking ban.

MPs will now press the government to introduce a ban in England.

The health secretary and the first minister have been locked in a long-running dispute over the proposals.

Reid, a Scottish MP, is thought to have confronted McConnell over the Executive's plans during October's Labour Party conference.

A former heavy drinker and smoker, Reid has kicked both habits over recent years but does not support a total ban.

He provoked anger earlier this year when he said that smoking was one of the few pleasures open to the poorest in society.

"I just do not think the worst problem on our sink estates by any means is smoking, but it is an obsession of the learned middle class," he said.

"What enjoyment does a 21-year-old single mother of three living in a council sink estate get?

"The only enjoyment sometimes they have is to have a cigarette."