National Assembly for Wales

Committee on Smoking in Public Places

Consultation Letter

Eich cyf . Your ref
Ein cyf . Our ref SPP Pol Rev 1 04

23 July 2004

Dear Colleague,

Consultation on smoking in public places

The National Assembly for Wales has established an additional Committee, the Committee on Smoking in Public Places, using its powers under Standing Order 8.1. The terms of reference for the Committee are to

  1. consider current evidence on relevant issues, including the health risks of environmental tobacco smoke and the economic impact of restrictions on smoking in public places;
  2. review developments in the UK and Ireland relating to the introduction of restrictions on smoking in public places (including the debates on Baroness Finlay’s and Lord Faulkner’s Private Member’s Bills, the response to the UK Government consultation on devolving powers to local authorities to introduce smoking bans at work and in public places, the outcome of the Scottish Executive consultation on smoking in public places, and the experience of implementing the workplace smoking ban in Ireland);
  3. consider the experiences in other countries where a ban has been introduced; and
  4. report to the Assembly by 25 May 2005 on its conclusions.

I am writing to invite you to give evidence to the Committee on the following issues:

  1. The health risks of environmental tobacco smoke.
  2. The economic impact of restrictions on smoking in public places.
  3. The impact of a ban in reducing the prevalence of smoking, ie whether a ban would encourage people to give up smoking or not to take it up.
  4. The effectiveness of extractor fans and other ventilation equipment to remove tobacco fumes from the atmosphere.
  5. Human rights arguments in respect of smokers and non-smokers.
  6. Enforcement.

If you wish to submit evidence please send it, preferably by e-mail or on disk, otherwise in hard copy, to Claire Morris, Deputy Committee Clerk, Committee on Smoking in Public Places, Assembly Parliamentary Service, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, CF99 1NA. The e-mail address is Committee.Smoking@wales.gsi.gov.uk. Please entitle the e-mail "Public Consultation".

Submissions should be sent to arrive by the closing date of Friday 29 October 2004. All submissions will be acknowledged.

When putting together your submission please keep in mind the following:

  • evidence should be factual, not anecdotal;
  • your response should be as succinct as possible;
  • it would be helpful if you would:
    • use the numbering above to indicate the issues to which you are responding;
    • indicate whether you are responding on behalf of an organisation or as an individual;
    • indicate whether you would be prepared to give oral evidence to the Committee

The National Assembly makes responses to public consultation available to the public and they may also be discussed at public committee meetings. If you do not want your response or name to be published it is important that you specify this at the end of your submission.

If you have any queries please contact me on 029 2089 8149 or Claire Morris (tel 029 2089 8148).

Jane Westklake
Clerk to the Committee

Local Authorities - Chief Executive
Local Authorities - Director of Social Services
Local Authorities - Director of Education
Local Authorities - Director of Leisure Services
Local Authorities - Director of Environmental Health
NHS Trusts - Chief Executive
NHS Trusts - Medical Director
Community Health Councils - Chief Officer
Local Health Boards - Chief Executive
Air Cleaner Manufacturers Association
Allied Brewery Traders Association
ALMR
AMICUS
Association of Non Smokers Rights
Association of Town Centre Managers
Association of Welsh Community Health Councils
ASH in Wales
Asthma UK Cymru
Atmosphere Improves Results
Audit Commission Wales
Automatic Vending Association
AWEMA
Barnado's Cymru
Black Association of Women Step Out Ltd
Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales
Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association
British American Tobacco
British Heart Foundation
British Hospitality Association
British Lung Foundation
British Medical Association
British Thoracic Society
Cancer Research UK Cymru
Cardiff International Airport
Care Council for Wales
CBI Cymru Wales
Centre for Health Informatics
Centre for Tobacco Control Reasearch
Chamber Wales
Chartered Institute for Environmental Health
Childline Cymru
Children in Wales
Cleanair - Campaign for a Smoke-free Environment
Children's Commissioner for Wales
Commission for Racial Equality
Communities that Care
Community Practitioners and Health Visitors' Association
Community Service Volunteers
Contact a Family
Diabetes UK
Disability Rights Commission
ELWA
Equal Opportunities Commission
Federation of Environmental Trade Associations
Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations
Federation of Small Businesses
Felinfoel Brewery Company
Food & Drink Federation
FOREST
Gallagher Group plc
General Teaching Council for Wales
Greene King Pub Company
Health & Safety Executive
Health & Safety Executive - Wales & South West Divisional Office
Health Communications Research Centre
Health Professions Wales
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Manufacturers Association (HEVAC)
Imperial Tobacco
Imported Tobacco Products Advisory Council (ITPAC)
Institute of Welsh Affairs
J.D. Wetherspoon
Joint Committee for Ethnic Minorities in Wales
Macmillan Cancer Relief
Mid & West Wales Fire Authority
Mid Wales Economic Forum
Mitchells & Butlers
National Association of Cigarette Machine Operators
National Association of Licensed House Managers
National Asthma Campaign Wales
National Family and Parenting Institute
National Public Health Service
NCH Cymru
New Opportunities Fund
North Wales Economic Forum
North Wales Fire Authority
NSPCC Cymru
Philip Morris Ltd
Public and Commercial Services Union
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Restaurant Association
Restaurateurs Association of Great Britain
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
Royal College of Midwives
Royal College of Nursing
S.A. Brain
Sinclair Collis
Small Independent Brewers Association
Smoke Control Association
SNAP Cymru
South East Wales Economic Forum
South Wales Fire & Rescue Service
South West Wales Economic Forum
South West Wales Tourism Partnership
Swansea Institute of Higher Education
Tenovus
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths
The Open University in Wales
The Sports Council for Wales
The Stroke Association
Tobacco Manufacturer's Association
Tobacco Alliance
Tourism Partnership Mid Wales
Tourism Partnership North Wales
Trinity College Carmarthen
UNISON
University of Glamorgan
University of Wales
University of Wales Aberystwyth
University of Wales Bangor
University of Wales College Newport
University of Wales College of Medicine
University of Wales Institute Cardiff
University of Wales Lampeter
University of Wales Swansea
USDAW
Wales Centre for Health
Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Wales Management Council
Wales Social Partners Unit
Wales Tourism Alliance
Wales Tourist Board
Wales Trade International
Wales TUC
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
Welsh Asian Council
Welsh Consumer Council
Welsh Development Agency
Welsh Local Government Association
Welsh Medical Committee
Welsh NHS Confederation
Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee
Welsh College of Music and Drama
Whitbread Group plc
Yates Group plc