First Anniversary of Smoking Ban Vote - 12th Feb, 2007

Sian James MP met with Caroline Flint, Public Health Minister, to celebrate the first anniversary of the House of Commons vote to ban smoking.

Sian James MP said:

“I can remember when smoking was common on public transport, on planes, in most offices and in cinemas. These places are better today, now they’re smoke-free. So I am delighted that from 1 July in England and 2 April in Wales, this year all public places will be smoke-free.

“Every year people throughout the country die from diseases like lung cancer – life expectancy for long term smokers is on average about a decade shorter than a non-smoker.

“Medical evidence increasingly shows that second hand smoke is a major health risk for workers and friends of smokers. It's not fair that many people have to face that health risk just by turning up to work. This is why I am proud to be part of a Government that voted to stop this and to make Swansea East smoke free."

More Information:

• The ban comes into force on 1 July 2007 in England and on 2 April 2007 in Wales

• Every year nearly 85,000 people die because of smoking, 33,000 of them because of lung cancer.

• Life expectancy for a long-term smoker is on average about a decade shorter than a non-smoker.

• A quarter of adults in the UK smoke – down from half of adults 30 years ago.

• Exposure to second hand smoke (‘passive smoking’) increases risk of heart disease and lung cancer by around a quarter.