Smoke ban to cover private clubs

Ministers originally wanted clubs to be exempt

An attempt to exempt private members' clubs from the smoking ban in England has failed in the House of Lords.

An amendment to the Health Bill by Labour peer Lord Pendry was defeated by 97 votes to 157.

The government was originally in favour of making clubs exempt, but the idea was thrown out by the Commons on a free vote in February.

The ban on smoking in public places is due to begin next year and will cover pubs, clubs and enclosed work places.

Peers also rejected calls for pubs and restaurants serving food to be exempt from the ban.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Russell-Johnston said he was trying to get a "little bit of toleration and less draconian".

But the move was defeated by 221 to 70 votes.

'No ban in homes'

The Lords accepted a plan to allow smoking on theatre stages and film sets "on the basis of artistic integrity" where it was needed in the script.

Health Minister Lord Warner said the new laws could also give ministers powers to ban smoking in sporting stadiums, bus shelters and the entrances to public buildings and work places.

He said these were examples of non-enclosed public places where there was "a risk of harm from second-hand smoke".

But there were no plans to prevent people from smoking in their own home, he told peers.

"And we are certainly not legislating for carers going into a person's home where they will be exposed to smoke," added Lord Warner.