Page 2301 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994
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5
However, as Ms Ellis's dissenting report points out, there is a need for fertile ground, for broad community support, when implementing smoking prohibitions. As the Government has stated many times, this is an area in which we want to bring the public with us.
The indications are that while the public is more than ready to support smoke-free restaurants, there is still considerable resistance to bars, gaming areas, and the like going smoke-free.
What the Government proposes is that changes in smoking patterns be reviewed after 24 months, to see whether, and what, further action is desirable.
I now turn to some of the other recommendations of the report.
The Government is prepared to agree to the recommendation that the responsibility of occupiers of premises where smoking is prohibited be limited to requesting smokers to stop smoking in prohibited areas and informing smokers that they are committing an offence.
We believe that an obligation on occupiers to remove any smoking paraphernalia -- ash trays, matches and the like -- that could encourage people to smoke is also warranted and would have the effect of making occupiers' responsibilities easier to meet.
As I have already indicated, there is no change to the Government's position that restaurants must be included in the range of places which should go smoke-free.
In relation to the Committee's recommendation that premises go smoke-free immediately, the Government's position is that it is only reasonable to allow a 60-day period to prepare for the introduction of the requirements.
In summary, the Government has built on the Committee's report by presenting a way forward which is reasonable, soundly-based, and achievable.
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