BMA Cymru Wales lobbies Peter Hain on smoking in public places

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 22 Dec 2004 - 14:00 PDT

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The chairman and Welsh secretary of BMA Cymru Wales travelled to London this week to lobby Secretary of State Peter Hain on a Welsh ban on smoking in public places.

Chairman Dr Tony Calland was pleased with the reception: "Peter Hain listened carefully to our views and stated that with the progress of the Public Health Bill through Parliament next year, the National Assembly for Wales would be given the opportunity to bring in a complete ban in Wales should they decide to do so when their committee on smoking in public places reports in May."

BMA Cymru Wales supports a complete ban throughout the country.

Welsh Secretary of the BMA, Dr Richard Lewis said: "The banning of smoking in public places would be the single most important public health act that a government could do. Hundreds if not thousands of people who inhale second hand smoke - passive smokers - die a horrible death every year in Wales. the sooner a ban is in place. The sooner we shall see a marked decline in the Welsh morbidity figures.

He added: "Everyone has the basic human right to fresh air - in their workplace, in restaurants, in public houses and in clubs."

For more information please contact:

John Jenkins
Tel: 029 2047 4611
mobile 07788 565216
pager 04325 638059
Fax: 029 2047 4621
Email: jjenkins@bma.org.uk

BMA Cymru Wales
Fifth floor
2 Caspian Point
Caspian Way
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF10 4DQ

Telephone: (029) 2047 4646
Fax: (029) 2047 4600
email: info.cardiff@bma.org.uk

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