MPs told Charter is not making 'satisfactory progress'

MPs have been told that pubs are not doing enough to tackle the problem of smoking.

Melanie Johnson (pictured)​, the Parliamentary under-secretary for health, told MPs the industry's Charter Group initiative had failed to meet its targets and was not making "satisfactory progress".

But she did confirm that there are no plans for an outright smoking ban at the moment and the Department of Health (DoH) is talking to the industry's Charter Group about the way forward.

"The Charter set the target that 50 per cent of pubs should have a formal smoking policy in place and available to customers by January 2003," she said.

"However, an independent validation showed that only 43 per cent of pubs had the appropriate signage in place - which could mean that smoking is allowed throughout - and a formal written policy available to customers.

"A universal ban on smoking in public places is unjustified while we can make vast and substantial progress by other means," she added.

In May the Charter Group revealed that 63 per cent of pubs in England and Wales were displaying the Charter signage, beating the minimum 50 per cent requirement agreed with the government. But only 43 per cent of pubs had a formal written policy in place.

Nick Bish, head of the group, which promotes self-regulation on smoking, said: "The minister refused to consider a smoking ban and that is good news.

"We are content that we are talking to the DoH again and the Charter will only work if the industry and the government work together.

"The government is looking for us to make suggestions on how we can refine the Charter."

Oliver Griffiths, spokesman for Atmosphere Improves Results, which promotes the Charter, said: "There is enthusiasm in the industry for the Charter but without knowing the government's plans and timeframes it makes it hard.

"The industry needs some certainty."

Charter backed by pubcos​

Research carried out by the Charter Group, which opposes a blanket smoking ban, found that 99 per cent of pub companies backed the Charter as the best way to deal with the smoking issue.

The respondents also said they would actively work towards any new targets agreed with the government.

Eighty-eight per cent of licensees who responded to The Publican's Market Report are aware of the Charter and 83 per cent of them are displaying Charter signs.