Trade says Welsh Assembly should think again

Several leading trade bodies have accused the Welsh Assembly of not thinking through their early smoke ban announcement.

Following yesterday's announcement that the Welsh Assembly hoped to implement the ban on 2 April next year, the ALMR, BEDA, BII and FLVA all accused the assembly of failing to give the trade time for a successful implementation.

To pick a date even before final regulations are published, seems to suggest that Rhodri Morgan's announcement has not been thoroughly thought out.​Joint trade statement.

30,000 licensees​The group, which collectively represent over 30,000 licensed premises, issued a statement which said:

"We accept that the smoking ban is coming and that it is coming soon, but it makes little sense to bring in a ban before licensed premises can make the necessary changes needed to their businesses to accommodate smokers."​

"Many licensed premises, especially the community pubs, are the lifeblood of their communities.

Low margins​"These self same premises often operate on very low margins.​

"With this in mind we feel that the transition needs to be properly managed.

"To pick a date even before final regulations are published, seems to suggest that [Welsh First Minister] Rhodri Morgan's announcement has not been thoroughly thought out."

Your Comments​Robert Feal-Martinez​ via email 20/09/2006"It is really quite a shame that trade bodies still express the view that the ban in it's current form is going to happen. The Government has breached a number of Articles under the Human Rights Act, and in addition to this issues under domestic law. Freedom to Choose have been advised that there is more than enough evidence for Judicial Review and that at the very least HMG will have properly research the option of Ventilation/filtration and or seperation and uphold the Indoor Air Quality Standard that exists under Britich Standards as approved by the Health and Safety Executive. These regulations exist to do the very thing HMG say the ban is for. So I say to the trade bodies rather than mislead licensees at least have the courage to tell your members officially about the Judicial Review. Include it in your magazines for them to make a judgement, afterall you are paid by your members to represent them not yourselves."