I want to finish this point. I have also made it clear that we intend to monitor the impact of the ban, with the exceptions, from day one and to complete that review within three years. As I said, the Bill provides for a complete ban, but exceptions can be...

I want to finish this point. I have also made it clear that we intend to monitor the impact of the ban, with the exceptions, from day one and to complete that review within three years. As I said, the Bill provides for a complete ban, but exceptions can be...

My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. The prevalence of smoking in England and other parts of the country is going down among all groups, including working-class men. Indeed, the evidence on young women is not as clear cut as he suggests. Smoking rates are going down. They are...

My hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. The prevalence of smoking in England and other parts of the country is going down among all groups, including working-class men. Indeed, the evidence on young women is not as clear cut as he suggests. Smoking rates are going down. They are...

The measures in the Bill are designed to increase the choice that is available to patients in England. The Bill will enable primary care trusts to contract with a wider range of providers, and indeed, as you would expect, Mr. Speaker, we have been discussing this very closely with the...

The measures in the Bill are designed to increase the choice that is available to patients in England. The Bill will enable primary care trusts to contract with a wider range of providers, and indeed, as you would expect, Mr. Speaker, we have been discussing this very closely with the...

I shall give way one more time to the hon. Gentleman on this point.

I shall give way one more time to the hon. Gentleman on this point.

I am most grateful, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Indeed, I said that the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended but that we were proceeding in the spirit of devolution. In making our judgment about licensed premises, we have taken into account the fact that England already has the lowest smoking rates in...

I am most grateful, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Indeed, I said that the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended but that we were proceeding in the spirit of devolution. In making our judgment about licensed premises, we have taken into account the fact that England already has the lowest smoking rates in...

May I make this point before accepting further interventions? Those clubs are non-profit-making organisations in which the members make the decisions, just as people make their own decisions in their own homes. It is therefore right to exempt membership clubs, just as it is right to allow people who continue...

May I make this point before accepting further interventions? Those clubs are non-profit-making organisations in which the members make the decisions, just as people make their own decisions in their own homes. It is therefore right to exempt membership clubs, just as it is right to allow people who continue...

The issue of health inequalities and reducing health inequalities is central to our purpose as a Government, whether it is in health policy and the work that we are doing to improve the national health service, or a series of other aspects. The point I want to make in relation...

The issue of health inequalities and reducing health inequalities is central to our purpose as a Government, whether it is in health policy and the work that we are doing to improve the national health service, or a series of other aspects. The point I want to make in relation...

I regret that the hon. Gentleman did not tell us whether he supports the measure or not. It would appear that the Opposition cannot make up their mind whether there should be legislation. I have made it clear that in legislating on this matter, which is a matter that directly...

I regret that the hon. Gentleman did not tell us whether he supports the measure or not. It would appear that the Opposition cannot make up their mind whether there should be legislation. I have made it clear that in legislating on this matter, which is a matter that directly...

I give way to the hon. Gentleman.

I give way to the hon. Gentleman.

I hear my hon. Friend from a sedentary position. He anticipates the point that I was about to make. We will consult in particular on whether the best way to achieve that is to designate an area that does not include the bar to be a smoking area or smoking...

I hear my hon. Friend from a sedentary position. He anticipates the point that I was about to make. We will consult in particular on whether the best way to achieve that is to designate an area that does not include the bar to be a smoking area or smoking...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising an extremely important point. As I have said, the Bill provides for a full ban with the power to make exemptions, which will be made by statutory instrument and which will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. If after the...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising an extremely important point. As I have said, the Bill provides for a full ban with the power to make exemptions, which will be made by statutory instrument and which will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. If after the...

I am most grateful to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I did indeed say that we would legislate for prisons and for care homes, and that I trusted that those exemptions would not be controversial. If they are controversial, I am sure that they will be discussed in more detail, not...

I am most grateful to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I did indeed say that we would legislate for prisons and for care homes, and that I trusted that those exemptions would not be controversial. If they are controversial, I am sure that they will be discussed in more detail, not...

I want to bring my remarks to a conclusion because I am keen that as many hon. Members as possible should contribute to the debate. This part of the Bill has already aroused considerable debate. Yet the changes that we propose will transform our public places. They will provide a...

I want to bring my remarks to a conclusion because I am keen that as many hon. Members as possible should contribute to the debate. This part of the Bill has already aroused considerable debate. Yet the changes that we propose will transform our public places. They will provide a...

I am drawing my remarks to a close. It is important to remember that the Government cannot force people to be healthy. The clear message from the public consultation and the central proposition in ““Choosing Health”” is that people want the Government to help them become healthy and stay healthy,...

I am drawing my remarks to a close. It is important to remember that the Government cannot force people to be healthy. The clear message from the public consultation and the central proposition in ““Choosing Health”” is that people want the Government to help them become healthy and stay healthy,...

As far as I know, that particular point has not been put to us—we have considered the specific issue of oilrigs, where workers cannot leave the site. I undertake to consider my hon. Friend’s point more closely, but at this stage my response is that we expect workers in such...

As far as I know, that particular point has not been put to us—we have considered the specific issue of oilrigs, where workers cannot leave the site. I undertake to consider my hon. Friend’s point more closely, but at this stage my response is that we expect workers in such...

I really want to bring my speech to an end. The Bill is a landmark in the protection of people’s health and of public health in our country. It will continue to improve our national health service. I am confident that all my right hon. and hon. Friends, whatever their...

I really want to bring my speech to an end. The Bill is a landmark in the protection of people’s health and of public health in our country. It will continue to improve our national health service. I am confident that all my right hon. and hon. Friends, whatever their...

I will take further interventions in a moment, but I want to make a little progress because there is an extremely important point of principle, which divides Labour Members from the Conservative party. Fewer people now smoke and more people demand smoke-free public places and workplaces.

I will take further interventions in a moment, but I want to make a little progress because there is an extremely important point of principle, which divides Labour Members from the Conservative party. Fewer people now smoke and more people demand smoke-free public places and workplaces.

I take that as a statement that the hon. Gentleman and, no doubt, many of his hon. Friends will vote against the Bill, because they do not accept that the Government have a responsibility to act in this respect.

I take that as a statement that the hon. Gentleman and, no doubt, many of his hon. Friends will vote against the Bill, because they do not accept that the Government have a responsibility to act in this respect.

I have just said that I will make a little more progress before I take further interventions. I have no doubt at all that, even without legislation, in the fullness of time, we would eventually see a self-imposed ban on smoking spread to virtually all public places and workplaces. The...

I have just said that I will make a little more progress before I take further interventions. I have no doubt at all that, even without legislation, in the fullness of time, we would eventually see a self-imposed ban on smoking spread to virtually all public places and workplaces. The...

There will not be 24-hour drinking as a result of very sensible changes in the licensing laws, which, of course, Opposition Members have called for and which will enable responsible adults to drink rather more without the current restrictions—[Interruption.] We will enable responsible adults to drink without the restrictions that...

There will not be 24-hour drinking as a result of very sensible changes in the licensing laws, which, of course, Opposition Members have called for and which will enable responsible adults to drink rather more without the current restrictions—[Interruption.] We will enable responsible adults to drink without the restrictions that...