Smoking ban plan ignites papers

A smoking ban in English pubs, cafes and restaurants splits opinion in Tuesday's papers.

The Sun says "a pint and a fag is a man's right" while the Independent's front page is filled with statistics on the dangers of smoking and alcohol.

But its writer, Tim Luckhurst, accuses anti-smokers of exaggerating the risks and stirring up smokers' resentment.

Meanwhile Bhutan, in the Himalayas, is to become the first country to ban all tobacco sales, says the Daily Mail.

Chirac speaks

French president Jacques Chirac is due to visit Britain and the Times carries an interview with him.

He says Tony Blair will gain nothing for his support for the US in Iraq, saying it is not in the nature of Americans to return favours.

The Times and the Daily Telegraph report one source of potential embarrassment has been removed from his trip.

He was due to see Les Miserables at Windsor Castle in the Waterloo Room - it has been renamed for the occasion.

School camp

The determination of parents to secure a sixth-form place for their children, is highlighted by the Daily Mirror, the Mail and the Express.

Eight hundred parents camped outside Aquinas College, in Stockport, to apply for places which are allocated on a first-come-first served basis.

The Mail says the scenes were like Wimbledon or the January sales.

One mother tells the Mirror it was worth it, because the sixth-form college has a "superb reputation".

Crime doesn't pay

The Daily Mirror says it has an exclusive, revealing what it calls secret plans to cut compensation payments made to victims of crime.

It says the government wants to save £25m a year by reducing the awards made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel.

It says the proposals have angered the panel and upset civil servants.

The Home Office tells the paper that David Blunkett has seen the proposals, but has made no final decision.