Responding to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health press release on 10 years of smoke-free laws, LGA Lib Dem Spokesperson on Public Health, Cllr Richard Kemp, said:
“As we mark the 10th anniversary of the ban on smoking in public places, and celebrate the successes of a game-changing piece of public health legislation, it is pleasing that we have taken huge strides as a nation in reducing smoking rates.
“As a Liverpool Liberal Democrat Councillor I am especially proud of the role the City of Liverpool played, when under Lib Dem control, in getting this legislation under way”.
“Of course it is important not to get complacent, and acknowledge that there is still more to be done with nearly one in six still smoking.
“Councils, which are responsible for public health, run a range of innovative programmes to help people kick the habit and stub out smoking for good.
“Our ultimate aim is for a smoke-free nation, but we still have a long way to go yet.”
Notes to editors
The LGA has published A Breath of Fresh Air, a new report on 10 years of smoke-free workplaces.