Scottish Public Places Smoking Bill a “slap in the face” for public consultation

Commenting on the Scottish Executive’s Bill proposing a total ban on smoking in public places, which was published today, the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association’s chief executive Tim Lord said:

“This is an extraordinary slap in the face for all the people who made it clear in the Executive’s own consultation exercise that they were against a total ban. The Executive’s refusal to listen to what the Scottish public wants should alarm everybody who wants to see more choice of non-smoking facilities but not an all-out ban.

“What’s more, this Bill does not make it clear what is meant by ‘no-smoking areas’ or what types of premises might be exempt, if any. This makes for very confusing legislation and we urge the Executive to publish the draft regulations as soon as possible so the public and businesses that are affected can understand where exactly people are going to be allowed to smoke.”

The Scottish Executive’s public consultation(1) reported responses from 52,441 members of the general public (about one per cent of the Scottish population). Over a third (35 per cent) of these supported exemptions to a law banning smoking in public places, especially for pubs, clubs and restaurants. The proportion of people in favour of exemptions doubled to two thirds (66 per cent) in a survey (2)of a representative sample of the Scottish population, also commissioned by the Executive. Only just over one in ten (13%) of respondents to this survey supported a total ban without any exemptions. Other places respondents mentioned that should either be exempt or have segregated smoking areas included residential care homes, other long-stay care facilities and prisons.

Tim Lord said: “There is no doubt that the public in Scotland wants more action on public smoking but most don’t agree with a blanket ban. Unfortunately, so far the Scottish Executive seems to have been deaf to the voices of moderation. These will now have to shout much louder in order to get the extreme measures proposed in this Bill amended into provisions that are sensible, workable and in line with what the majority of the Scottish public wants.”

Notes to Editors:

This press release is issued on behalf of the TMA’s principal member companies: Imperial Tobacco Ltd, Gallaher Ltd, and British American Tobacco.

1. Smoking in Public Places, A consultation on reducing exposure to second hand smoke, Key findings of responses to a public consultation, George Street Research.
2. Smoking in Public Places, A consultation on reducing exposure to second hand smoke, Report of an Omnibus Survey, mruk research.