Memorandum by the Mayor of London (WP
52)
This memorandum addresses the Government's proposal
to introduce a partial ban on smoking in public places and whether,
under the terms of reference of the Health Committee inquiry,
these proposals will enable the Government to achieve its public
health goals.
The Mayor has a duty to consider the health
of people in London in planning and delivering strategies and
programmes. The GLA Act requires the Mayor to seek to "promote
improvement in health" and to minimise any negative impacts
on health.
SUMMARY
1. A partial ban on smoking in public spaces
and workplaces is unacceptable because it:
— does not afford the same level of
protection to all workers;
— is likely to increase existing health
inequalities; and
— does little to support the Government's
own inequalities targets.
2. I am committed to making enclosed public
spaces and workplaces in London smokefree. In the latest MORI
poll I commissioned, two thirds of people said they would support
a complete ban being introduced on smoking in all workplaces.
BACKGROUND
3. Smoking is a serious public health issue,
causing a wide range of illnesses including cancer, respiratory
diseases and heart disease. There are marked differences in smoking
related deaths between the most and least affluent in London and
ethnic inequalities are even greater. In Kingston-upon-Thames
the proportion of deaths caused by smoking is less than 14%, while
in Tower Hamlets it is 23%.
4. Passive smokers suffer an increased risk
of a range of smoking-related diseases. Over a million Londoners
are in workplaces where smoking is still allowed in some areas
and a quarter of a million workers have no protection at all.
5. Evidence suggests that programmes to
create smokefree environments protect people from serious health
problems, while providing strong motivation for smokers who are
trying to quit. Such programmes have been shown to cause a 30%
drop in consumption of cigarettes amongst people who work in smokefree
venues. In the long-term, making enclosed public places smokefree
will help prevent young people from taking up smoking.
Will the proposals enable the Government to achieve
its public health goals?
6. I am of the view that a partial ban is
unacceptable because it does not afford the same level of protection
from second hand smoke to workers in licensed premises as the
rest of the population. These proposals are likely to increase
existing health inequalities and they do little to support the
Government's own inequalities targets.
7. Health professionals have criticised
the Government's intention to exempt pubs and bars that do not
prepare and serve food, as well as all membership clubs, from
legislation to ban smoking. I am similarly disappointed that the
Government has not taken this opportunity to propose a complete
ban. If there is an overwhelming health case for protecting any
one individual worker from the dangers of second hand smoke, then
this should be extended to all workers.
8. The Government has estimated that between
10% and 30% of pubs fall into the category of not serving food.
However, those pubs that currently do serve food may well decide
to stop doing so in the face of pressure from customers who wish
to smoke. And it is likely to be in the most disadvantaged areas,
where the highest rates of smoking prevail, where customers will
put pressure on the pub to continue to allow smoking.
9. Workers in the lowest social classes
are likely to be most affected by second hand smoke, since, by
and large, they will be staffing the pubs and bars that choose
not to ban smoking. This may well serve to increase existing health
inequalities.
10. The Government's proposals will not
help individuals who wish to stop smoking. Smokers who wish to
give up will not be provided with an incentive to do so if there
is a ready supply of pubs and bars in their locality in which
they can continue to smoke.
11. The Government has argued that a total
ban on smoking in pubs and bars is likely to cause more people
to smoke at home, but there is no evidence available to support
this.
12. These proposals may jeopardise the Government's
specific smoking inequalities targets to reduce smoking rates
among manual groups from 32% in 1998 to 26% by 2010.
RECOMMENDATIONS
13. The Government should make a clear commitment
to introduce legislation in the first session of the new parliament,
to provide for a complete national ban on smoking in all public
spaces and workplaces.
14. Failing this, the Government should
give me the power to ban smoking in all public spaces and workplaces
in London.
February 2005
| 
