The Labour Party Manifesto at the last general election committed the government to banning smoking in all government departments by 2006, and by 2008 banning it in all enclosed public places and workplaces, the majority of pubs and all restaurants. Major pub and restaurant chains, reflecting their customers’ concern over this issue, have already introduced their own bans ahead of the government’s measures.
Following the election, the government came forward with concrete proposals for legislation in a Health Bill. The original proposals in the Health Bill aimed to ensure that 99% of workers had completely smoke-free workplace, up from 51% at present. This means an additional 12 million workers would be protected from second hand smoke.
The Bill is a major step forward for public health. It will reduce the harmful effects of second hand smoke, saving thousands of lives in England by reducing deaths from cancer, heart disease and all other diseases caused by smoking. It will also help smokers who are trying to quit by creating an environment in which it is easier to do so. The Bill sought to balance the right of employees to be protected from second-hand smoke with the right of adults to have a cigarette with their drink. The Bill as originally drafted would have ensured that:
• all restaurants will be smoke free
• pubs and bars preparing and serving food will be smoke free
• ‘non-food’ pubs and bars will be free to choose whether to allow smoking or be smoke-free
• membership clubs will be exempt
• smoking in the bar area will be prohibited everywhere
The government will be bringing forward the date when these proposals will be implemented by 18 months to the summer of 2007 instead of the end of 2008, as originally proposed. All government departments and the NHS will be smoke-free (apart from limited exceptions such as long stay residential homes) by the end of 2006.
I am glad that the government brought forward a Bill to fulfil its pledge in the manifesto it was elected on.
The government decided to allow a free vote on whether the ban should cover pubs and bars that do not serve food, and whether it should cover membership clubs. In the event, a majority of MPs voted for a full ban of smoking in public places and membership clubs. I voted in line with the manifesto commitment, which is our contract with the country, for a partial ban. I believe it is important that public support is maintained when changing the law in a way that will very directly impact on people’s daily lives. I am concerned about the effect that a change in the law might have on the many smokers who choose to socialise in bars and clubs. As a society we are getting out of the habit of doing things together and stay at home instead.
If a full ban had not been passed there would have been a review of the changes in three years time. I believe that would have been the best stage at which to decide whether a complete ban was appropriate, when we have seen how the public feel about these changes. Rushing ahead without careful consultation and planning could result in a backlash in public opinion and so jeopardise any hope of a complete ban. I fully appreciate how damaging smoking can be to health, but it is important to build a consensus around changes in the law that will be preserved in the long term.
The government has also taken steps to tackle the root of the problem – the fact that people smoke. Those in Islington have a higher chance of lung cancer than others in the country, so this is an especially important issue for Islington.
I am glad that the number of smokers has fallen by 1.2 million since Labour’s first public health white paper set out to tackle the problem in 1998. The government has set up a comprehensive NHS Stop Smoking Service, providing counselling and support to smokers wanting to quit. To give even more help, it has made available on NHS prescription stop smoking aids such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (Nicorette is a form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy). Further, action is being taken to put hard-hitting picture warnings on cigarette packets, further restrictions on tobacco advertising and deal with shops that sell cigarettes to children.
I thought carefully about how I would vote on this issue and I made my decision mindful of the fact that many of my constituents would not agree with my decision. However, I was elected on a manifesto with a clear and specific commitment on smoking, which I wanted to honour.
I am proud of Labour’s record on health, we have invested heavily and made substantial advances – none of Islington Primary Care Trust’s patients are waiting more than six months for inpatient treatment. The House of Commons Library estimates that revenue allocations to Islington have increased by 129% between 1996/97 and 2007/08 and Islington PCT is in receipt of £1,705 per head in the current (2005/06) financial year, the highest of the 303 PCTs in England!
Emily Thornberry MP
Islington South and Finsbury
9th March 2006
