Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

My Lords, I also welcome with great enthusiasm what the Minister has said and that the Government are now bringing this in. When we look back on the debates that have taken place, we will not wonder why we did it. We will wonder why it took us so long to introduce these measures, which are self-evidently sensible and proper. They have the support of the majority of people, even smokers, as is evidenced from research in Ireland. They have the support of the medical profession and they accord entirely with common sense. When is the proposed starting date? In Scotland in August, I asked a man who ran a pub what he thought. He said, ““Well, it’s very straightforward now. I suppose if there is any tension, it will be in the winter when people can’t smoke outside””. I am sure that my noble friend has answers to the following specific points. What will happen in prisons, in long-stay hospitals, particularly mental illness hospitals, and in hospices? These questions are not intended to be hostile. I am totally in favour of the Government’s measure. I wish them good luck in implementing it.