"Let's have a smoke-a-thon"

Oscar-winning playwright Ronald Harwood has come out in support of actor Johnny Depp's suggestion of a smoke-a-thon in protest against a public smoking ban. "Let's do it," the former president of both English and International PEN said. "Let's all turn up in Trafalgar Square and have a huge smoke-a-thon. That'll show them."

Source: FOREST Online (23 January 2006)

Lib Dems clash over smoking ban

Candidates for the Liberal Democrat leadership have clashed over the merits of a smoking ban.
Sir Menzies Campbell said he would support it, but Mark Oaten retorted: "If you're going to be a liberal, Ming, you can't pick and mix on the subjects you're going to be a liberal on." He was backed by Simon Hughes, who is currently the bookies' favourite for the leadership, who said: "My instinct is always less legislation, less regulation. Personally, I won't be voting for the smoking ban."

Source: DeHavilland (17 January 2006)

More may light up at home

Research by University College London claims that parents are more likely to light up at home if they are prevented from smoking in bars and restaurants. Dr Jerome Adda, who carried out the UCL study, said: "Outright bans may not be the optimal policy. Bans in bars may induce smokers to spend more time at home and expose other members of the household, especially children, to smoke."

Source: Western Mail (16 January 2006)

Labour MPs given free vote

Labour MPs and government ministers have been given a free vote on bill to ban smoking in public places, increasing the chances of a total ban. Pubs not serving food and members' clubs were to have been exempted from a ban but pressure from Labour backbenchers appears to have prompted the decision to allow the free vote. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt is expected to vote for a blanket ban.

Source: BBC News (11 January 2006)

MSPs flout no smoking guide

Members of the Scottish Parliament have given the go-ahead for a £20,000 shelter at Holyrood that will allow them to continue to light-up at work - in breach of their own guidelines. Despite warning councils, health boards and care providers that building shelters to allow people to smoke outside would “minimise the health benefits of going smoke-free”, the Scottish Parliament has approved one for MSPs. Critics accused politicians of “breathtaking hypocrisy” for failing to follow the rules they have set for others.

Source: Sunday Times (8 January 2006)

Scottish ban could extend to great outdoors

Scotland is to have some of the world’s most draconian anti-smoking laws after ministers agreed measures to extend the proposed ban outdoors, to public parks, play areas and outside school gates. Guidelines, published jointly by Andy Kerr, the health minister, and Cosla, will advise councils to apply the ban to any area where children are likely to gather. Local authorities which follow the guidelines will have the power to introduce bylaws to enforce them. People caught smoking in parks or outside school gates would risk a fine.

Source: Sunday Times Scotland (1 January 2006)