date: 30th November 2006
embargo: 00.01hrs Friday 1 December 2006
Midlands 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 Regional Secretary Roger McKenzie 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 Midland'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:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
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Contacts:
Media enquiries: Roger McKenzie, T: 0121 262 6383; M: 07879 497 291;
E: rmckenzie@tuc.org.uk; Alan Weaver, T: 0121 262 6383; M: 07771 778 694;
Press release (300 words) issued 30 Nov 2006
