News & Comment
Members of parliament unite to amend smoking ban
Monday 23rd May 2011, posted by forest
MPs from the three main political parties have joined forces and will co-host a reception at the House of Commons to support an amendment to the smoking ban.
The Rt Hon Greg Knight, Conservative MP for East Yorkshire, Roger Godsiff, Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, and John Hemming, Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley, will host a reception for the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign at the House of Commons on Wednesday 29th June.
Publicans and members of the Clubs & Institute Union, which represents over 2000 working men’s clubs, have been invited to attend the event which marks the fourth anniversary of the smoking ban in England. Organisers say they will be lobbying MPs for a review of the ban and an amendment to the legislation.
Campaigners say the ban has had a devastating impact on community pubs throughout Britain. Almost three years after the introduction of smoking bans in England, Scotland and Wales, Scotland had lost 7.1% of its pub estate (467 pubs), Wales 7.3% (274), and England 7.6% (4,148).
Save Our Pubs & Clubs is a coalition of groups and individuals who believe that the smoking ban is excessive and should be amended to offer choice, protect jobs and help struggling pubs get back on their feet.
Campaigners want a review of the ban and an amendment to the legislation that would give pubs and private members’ clubs the option of having separate, well-ventilated smoking rooms.
Greg Knight MP, who helped launched the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign in 2009, said, “This is a unique opportunity for pubs and clubs to show how strongly they feel on this important issue. A modest change in the law, not a repeal of the smoking ban, is all we seek.
Mick McGlasham, general secretary of the Clubs & Institute Union which is supporting the event, said, “The ban was passed because the TUC wanted to protect staff and non-smokers but there is no reason why we cannot have a separate smoking room in what are private premises, especially with modern ventilation.”
Simon Clark, director of Forest and the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign, said, “Looking at the dramatic increase in pub closures since the introduction of smoking bans in Scotland, Wales and England, it is clear that the ban has been a big factor in the closure of pubs and clubs throughout Britain.
“The Government must review the ban and consider a change in the law that would allow separate smoking rooms in pubs and clubs.”
To attend the Save Our Pubs & Clubs reception at the House of Commons on Wednesday 29th June, telephone 01223 370156 or email info@amendthesmokingban.com.
Source: Save Our Pubs & Clubs (23 May 2011)
Comments:
Posted on May 23rd, 2011
pubs and clubs that sold meals, and an area set aside for customers who smoked, that government
broke its promise, and put a complete ban on all pubs and clubs. In parliament bar and cafe they
still carried on smoking long after it was baned in public until they had to ban it also.
one law for MPs and one for joe public, don`t ban smoking ban the MPs
Posted on May 23rd, 2011
Posted on May 23rd, 2011
Posted on May 31st, 2011
The zealots won't want to lose any of the ground they've gained with their lies and chicanery. They will fight any potential change in the law tooth and nail. They aren't interested in the horrendous social and economic costs they've imposed on the country. They just want to make smoking, and smokers, disappear, never to be seen again. They are the Righteous, and they must prevail.
Posted on Jun 2nd, 2011
Posted on Aug 16th, 2011
Posted on Apr 5th, 2012
| lost my apartment due to the smoking ban and my apartment was in Ottawa housing. I was very dismayed and I am still not able to have a home due to the disability ie. WORD or smoking ban. It was a very terrifying time for ME, not for housing or for the rental tribunal. I am now having to undue everything that was done in retaliation of the smokers law.
I was afraid for my life and my life had all ready been shortened due to smoking. I am an avid smoker of 37 years.
The disability word has created so much fuss in my life I will now have to sue the word disability, and the public pension itself from disability Ontario and how the money is allocated. And, as I said I lost my apartment of 25 years due to the smoking ban and each and every housing management is responsible for the misapplication of law which is in technical terms discrimination about the word disability itself, .
I could see for a very long time heading into the word disability and the pension created that there would be much difficulty with it. I really expected people to stop their discrimination against smokers but no such luck.
My rights were violated so bad like I said I lost my apartment of 25 years and now the WORD disability which really means SMOKING or a social worker or a refugee status, or homelessness or a newly landed immigrant and/or a social program(s) so much so that all in one day IT MADE me homeless intentionally to inflict pain and suffering.
Sincerely
Karen J. Dawe
