The health minister Lord Darzi has said there are no plans to extend the smoking ban to outdoor public places.

The news comes amid media speculation that the European Commissioner for Health is to recommend that the ban is extended to cover outdoor areas, which would include pub beer gardens. An announcement is due from the Commissioner later this morning.

In a debate in the Lords yesterday, crossbench peer Lord Laird asked Darzi what proposals were in place to “ensure that people do not have to smoke tobacco passively in public places which are in the open”.

Darzi replied: “There is no intention at this time to extend the smokefree law to any outdoor places. To make any non-enclosed place smokefree would require new regulations to be made; that would usually happen only after a process of public consultation. However, there will be a review of the smokefree legislation in 2010.”

Laird continued by asking whether plans were in place to “extend legislation banning smoking in certain places to other areas”.

Darzi concluded: “We have given a commitment to review this legislation in 2010. At the moment there are no plans to extend the legislation.”

Story By: Gemma McKenna (Morning Advertiser)