Chief executive of Cancer Research UK criticises UK government for failing to introduce complete smoking ban despite the advice of public consultation, medical research, and chief medical officer
Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "The [UK] government ignored the results of the public consultation it conducted on this issue.
"It ignored the views of the medical research and public health communities, the unions and the hospitality industry.
"Ministers have even ignored the advice of their own chief medical officer, Liam Donaldson.
"To also ignore the views of the all-party Health Select Committee would be completely indefensible.
"The compromised law is widely acknowledged to be unworkable.
"It would protect the health of some workers while leaving some of those at most risk from secondhand smoke exposure unprotected.
"There is also clear and unequivocal evidence that it would widen existing health inequalities.
"The government knows that pub workers will continue to die under a partial ban.
"We call on it to act on the views of doctors, health charities, the public and the hospitality industry and introduce a comprehensive smokefree law as soon as possible."
