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Business of the House

I draw my right hon. Friend's attention to early-day motion 888. [That this House believes there should be a free vote on the issues of ending smoking in workplaces and enclosed public places when Part 1 of the Health Bill is debated.] It calls for a free vote on smoke-free public places and has been signed by 49 Members, most of them from the Labour Benches, yet I understand that last week my right hon. Friend responded negatively to that suggestion, referring to the Labour manifesto. If that is the case, why did the Government carry out a consultation on the matter? Will he reconsider, as he knows that four out of five respondents called for a comprehensive ban? Does he know when the results of the consultation are to be published—and if he does not, will he find out?