date: 30 November 2006

embargo: 00.01hrs Friday 1 December 2006

TUC welcomes date of smoking ban

Commenting on the announcement that the smoking ban in England is to be introduced on 1 July 2007, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

"We're pleased that the Government has moved quickly to bring in the ban and make all public places and workplaces smoke free by next July. The UK's pubs, bars and restaurants will become healthier places to work overnight, and in the longer term fewer workers will fall ill or die as a result of second-hand smoke.

"But employers shouldn't leave it until the last minute before thinking about how to introduce the smoking ban in their factories or offices. To help them start to act now, the TUC has produced a simple guide containing advice on how employers should go about closing smoking rooms, how to introduce smoking restrictions and how they can help smoking staff give up."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (200 words) issued 1 Dec 2006