22 December 2005

Smoke gets in your eyes

Sinister or what? The Scotsman reports on the latest moves by the health fascists:
Key quote "Does your organisation know which of the homes visited by its staff are occupied by smokers? If not, it would be advisable to develop such a list. Once the situation relating to individual properties is ascertained, steps can be taken to reduce the exposure the staff might face" - Executive published guidelines on the ban on smoking in public places

Story in full THE public are to be told not to smoke in their own homes as part of plans to protect public sector workers from the effect of passive smoking.
The move is the latest part of the Scottish Executive's ban on smoking in public places, which will come into force on 26 March next year.
Ministers have told councils, health boards and social work departments that they should compile a "smokers' map" of Scotland, focusing on those who regularly receive visits from officials and carers. This would identify individual households where a smoker is resident.
The smokers would then be sent letters asking them not to smoke for one hour before a council worker or health worker called round. Public bodies have also been advised to use the smokers' map to ensure that any workers who suffer from breathing problems are kept away from the homes of smokers.

Intriguingly, the Scottish Executive press release (here) includes a quotation from ASH. Unusual that the Executive would wish to be so closely associated with a controversial lobby group. In the interests of balance, should FOREST not also have been invited to set out its views? Or is the Executive only interested in pushing one side of the story? If the Executive is in bed with ASH, can it be trusted to take a dispassionate and unbiased view of the matter?

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