Give pubs time to prepare for smoke ban say Lords

Conservative health spokesman in the Lords Earl Howe has called for the government to publish its smoke ban guidelines as soon as possible to allow the trade to prepare.

Speaking as the Lords kicked off their second day of debate over the Health bill, Earl Howe tabled an amendment to say that the guidelines on smoke shelters should form part of the bill and not part of the regulations which will be agreed at a later date.

Earl Howe said: "The pub trade needs to be able to plan ahead and to do so with certainty. Pubs may wish to prepare by providing smoking areas. But until the definitions are published they can't apply for planning permission.

"There is a risk in guessing what the definitions are going to be - this creates considerable difficulties for pubs.

"I don't think it's right to come down so hard on the pub and club trade by giving them so little time to prepare."

However, Government Health spokesman Lord Warner argued that definitions can only be agreed in regulations.

Lord Warner also quoted the front page of this week's Morning Advertiser in the Lords.

Robert Feal-Martinez​ via email, 25/04/2006Having listened to yesterdays debate one thing stood out again. The amount of time Lord Warner and others tried to curtail the debate was frankly disgusting.

Lord Warner has no answers except the scripted ones and is therefore lost when things move off at a tangent.

That cannot be said of Lords Naseby and Lord Stoddart who were again wiping the floor with those who wish to circumvent the democratic process.

Lord Walton came out with the same old ASH lies.

Lord Faulkner had little to say this time, thankly because it is so frustrating when this self rightious man again spouts lies, as truths.

Whilst it is true to say yesterdays session was not as dynamic as last which, nevertheless we can confidentially predict this will go the full journey. Lord Warner was clearly aware of that scheduling the next session the second week in May, one assumes to give himself time to read up on what was thrown at him. But so as not to disappoint him The Bigdebate will be supplying their Lordships with more up to the minute information and if I may I must pay tribute to Loraine McGregor for being and eyes and ears in the Lords. This lady is not even in the licensed trade but she passionately belives in Freedom campaign and democracy.

Thank You Loraine from all those involved.