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Health Bill

To say that they have suddenly changed their mind is stretching the facts a little. After they were re-elected in May 2005, the Government, very properly, engaged in a detailed and long consultation process on the proposals for smoke-free provision in the Health Bill. As a result of that consultation—where figures of 70 per cent and 80 per cent were recording support for complete smoke-free policies rather than for a policy of limited exemption—the policy was changed. In fact, the Government did not change the policy; the policy was changed by the House of Commons by a majority of 200 on a free vote. I suspect that we defy that decision at our peril.