Smoking Ban

Answer: I am sorry that at a time when, thanks to a stunningly large majority in the House, to which the hon. Gentleman contributed, England is about to go smoke-free, he takes the tone that he does. We have taken the view, and Parliament took the view, that given that prison is akin to an individual’s own home, it was right to take the approach that we did, but it is also right, and absolutely essential, that we go on working with the prison authorities to reduce smoking in prison and to help more prisoners to give up smoking. I very much hope that the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues in the Conservative party will take the view, which I am sure all my hon. Friends do, that those who are Members of this House or who seek to be Members of this House should support and respect the laws that are made in this place. Otherwise, they might find themselves in prison.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Tuesday, 26 June 2007 by Andrew Murrison (Conservative).

Question: On 1 July, prison cells will be one of the very few enclosed public places where people can smoke, yet the health of the prison population is appalling and half of those who enter prison as non-smokers leave as smokers. When the Secretary of State has gone, she will best be remembered for her spectacular U-turn on smoke-free pubs. In the very short time remaining to her, will she assess the health consequences for convicts and prison officers of the exceptional smoking rights that she has granted to prisoners?

Secondary information