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| AIM This bill implements various public health proposals, particularly restricting smoking in public places, and improving levels of hygiene in hospitals as a means of tackling hospital-acquired infections like MRSA. MAIN PROVISIONS | TIMETABLE Responsible department: Dept of Health
Origin: Commons Introduced: 27 Oct 2005 Second reading: 29 Nov 2005 Committee stage: 6, 8, 13, 15 & 20 Dec 2005; 10 Jan 2006 Remaining stages: 14 Feb 2006 Consideration of Lords amendments: 18 July 2006 LORDS: First reading: 15 Feb 2006 Second reading: 1 March 2006 Committee stage: 20 & 24 April, 9, 15, 22, 25 May 2006 Report stage: 19 & 26 June 2006 Third reading: 4 July 2006 ROYAL ASSENT: 19 July 2006 |
Government depts and most of the NHS to be smoke-free by the end of 2006; all work and enclosed places to be smoke free by the end of 2007; and smoking to be banned in all places preparing or serving food by 2008.
Manifesto commitment to improve hospital hygiene to be pursued via a new code of practice and inspection regime for NHS bodies and care homes, including appropriate sanctions for shortfalls. Main exclusions from the ban are pubs and bars that don't serve food, and there is provision for exempting care homes, prisons and hotels.KEY VOTES 14 February 2006
Commons report stageMPs voted 384 to 184 in favour of an amendment for a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places
13 cabinet ministers incl the PM voted in favour and 6 against incl the deputy PM
There was a free vote on 3 options:
-comprehensive ban
-ban excl food-free pubs/clubs
-ban excl private club 19 June 2006
Lords report stage Peers voted 221 to 70 against lifting the ban on smoking in certain premises where food is served Peers voted 157 to 97 against allowing private clubs to be exempt from the ban BACKGROUND Emanated from the government's 2004 white paper, 'Choosing Health'.
The partial ban on smoking in public places has proved very controversial
, and the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, threatened to resign over the issue. The new Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt made reference to this law in her debut speech for the department on 13 May.
Ms Hewitt referred to the standards of hygiene in food factories as a template for the improvements.
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