The results of the consultations around smoking and health care associated infections, which contributed to the Health Bill, have been published on the Department of Health website (www.dh.gov.uk).
Over 57,000 responses were received on the smoke free element of the Health Bill. Nearly 90% of these responses welcomed proposals for legislation on smoke-free public places and workplaces.
The measures in the Health Bill will mean that 99% of the workforce will be guaranteed a completely smoke free workplace compared with 51% today. The Bill takes forward the proposals set out in the Public Health White Paper, Choosing Health, and offers a balance between minimising the risk to workers and non-smokers and retaining some degree of choice for those who do wish to smoke with a drink.
The legislation will now be introduced in the summer of 2007, over a year earlier than originally planned. These proposals will be monitored from the outset and there will be a review at the end of three years.
