Website of the Department of Health

• Launch date:
  17 July 2006
• Closing date:
  9 October 2006
• Creator/s:
  Department of Health
• Audience:
  Professionals
• Copyright holder:
  Crown

The Department is aware of a number of questions about which local authorities should be enforcement authorities. By way of explanation, we are considering that enforcement authorities will include: county councils, unitary councils, metropolitan district councils, district councils and London boroughs. This means that in two tier areas, it will generally be the district council that does most of the enforcement.

This will however be a matter for discussion and negotiation between the district and county. We will be taking the points raised during these discussions into account when finalising the regulations.

 Introduction:

The Health Bill that is currently before Parliament includes legislative provisions to make virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces smoke free. If approved by Parliament, the Government plans to implement smoke free legislation in summer 2007.

The medical and scientific evidence of the risks to health from exposure to secondhand smoke is well established. Through the Choosing Health White Paper, the Government set out a clear strategy to tackle smoking, as well as the effects of smoking on others. A key aspect of the strategy is to shift the balance significantly in favour of smoke free places to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.

Regulations to be made under powers in the Health Bill will set out the detail of how smoke free legislation will be implemented, including plans for exemptions.