Robert TaylourTHE Prime Minister's revelation of a possible Government ban on public smoking has been welcomed by Swindon health watchdogs.

Mr Blair said: "We are considering it and that's as much as it is at the moment.

"Until we have done the various consultations it would be wrong to give a final view.

"What we know is there is no doubt about the damage smoking does and a lot of people who aren't smokers would prefer to be in an environment where there's not smoking taking place.

"In the end though, you have also got to have some local decision-making in this."

The Prime Minister's comments have been widely interpreted as a suggestion that local authorities might be given discretion over whether smoking should be banned in bars, restaurants and other confined public spaces.

Passive smoking is widely blamed for illnesses among non-smokers ranging from heart problems to lung cancer, although pro-smoking groups insist the evidence is far from conclusive.

In Swindon, the council's head of public protection, Robert Taylour, went on record earlier this year as saying he would like to see the authority begin working towards a public smoking ban.

He said of the Prime Minister's comments: "This is excellent news. It is not the smokers we want to ban, it is situations in which people are exposed, against their wishes, to smoke.

"If people want to have a cigarette in their home, in their car, or in some other place where their smoke isn't going to bother anybody else, that's fine."

Asked about people smoking in venues such as bars Mr Taylour said a complete ban might not be necessary, merely the provision of smoking rooms.

Swindon Primary Care Trust chief executive Jan Stubbings also welcomed Mr Blair's comments.

She said: "The PCT HQ building itself has a smoke-free policy, and we would encourage other employers to follow suit. It all helps to improve the health of the people of Swindon."

Barrie Hudson