Summary
IN TIMES past, the First Minister, Jack McConnell, has professed to be sceptical regarding legislating for a blanket ban on smoking in public places. Mr McConnell has tolerated the pro-ban deputy health minister, Tom McCabe, conducting low-key consultative meetings on the idea, no doubt to show that the Executive has the matter under review. But beyond such cosmetics, our ever-cautious First Minister has always seemed unwilling to court a public controversy over the issue. Now, however, all that has changed.
Following a fact-finding visit to Dublin, where such a smoking ban has been introduced, Mr McConnell seems to have reversed his position. He announced: "I am now much closer to the idea that a consistent ban could be advantageous and would make such a law much easier to observe." Privately, his officials are convinced a ban will be in place in under two years.See the full content of this document
Extract
Leader: Mcconnell's Dublin Conversion
There are many strong medical and social reasons for a ban on smoking in public places, especially in Scotland, with its chronic lung-cancer record. It is a credible public health measure with a strong chance of actually discouraging the incidence of ...
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