Health Bill

The issue of health inequalities and reducing health inequalities is central to our purpose as a Government, whether it is in health policy and the work that we are doing to improve the national health service, or a series of other aspects. The point I want to make in relation to the narrow but important proposed exemptions is that bar staff everywhere will have protection against smoking, which does not currently exist. There is at present no law at all in that regard. We will consult on the regulations in this and other areas, and ensure that even in the membership clubs and non-food pubs that decide to allow smoking, smoking will still be prohibited, at least in the area around the bar.