Health minister hears new demands on smoking from the BBPA

A new string of demands from the hospitality industry ahead of the smoking ban has been made to health minister Caroline Flint.

With the Health Bill which includes the government's plans for the ban due to reach the report stage in the House of Lords on Monday (June 19), the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has set out four key points to Ms Flint.

Rob Hayward, chief executive of the BBPA, made the demands last week after canvassing views across the hospitality industry, and from local authorities.

During what he described as a "full" conversation with Ms Flint, Mr Hayward said:

* the guidelines on how the ban will be implemented must be issued as soon as possible, in order to give businesses as long as possible to prepare - even if they can only be published in parts

* the exact start date of the regulations should be set as soon as possible, with Sunday July 1 now the preferred date if the ban must be introduced in 2007

* oobligations on pubs to introduce no-smoking signage must be kept to a minimum, and preferably restricted to A5 international no-smoking symbols

* the government should launch a high-profile publicity campaign to make sure the public are left in no doubt about the details of the ban.

Commenting on the suggested July 1 start date, Mr Hayward claimed there was now "a general recognition" that the ban would not be delayed until 2008.

"We can't go with the ban too early in the spring because local elections will get in the way of planning applications," he said.

"I will continue to press very firmly for the earliest publication of the guidelines even if they have to be brought out in parts."

A last-ditch attempt by smokers lobby group Forest, urging the Lords to reject an all-out ban in favour of a compromise offering designated smoking rooms, appeared doomed to failure last week.

An amendment to permit separate smoking rooms has been tabled by former Liberal leader Lord Steel of Aikwood.

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: "The important thing is to provide choice for those who choose to smoke and those who want to work or socialise in a smoke-free environment. We urge peers to support an option that we believe will be widely welcomed by the general public."