Category: News
Date: 14.02.2006
Printable version
Almost half (48%) of the population think smoking should be banned completely, according to a 91Èȱ¬ Newsnight/ICM opinion poll.
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Fifty per cent of respondents disagreed with a complete ban and two per cent were undecided, according to the poll revealed tonight (Tuesday 14 February).
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Tonight MPs will be asked to select between three options - a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places excluding membership clubs and those pubs that do not serve food; a ban which includes all pubs but excludes membership clubs; and a complete ban.
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The survey results - revealed on Newsnight on 91Èȱ¬ TWO at 10.30pm - suggest the public are much keener to see a ban only in pubs that serve food than in all pubs and membership clubs.
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The Government's original proposal which would see the ban on smoking only in pubs which serve food received 83 per cent support in the poll with 16% against and 1% undecided.
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The option to ban smoking in all pubs and clubs including members only bars received 47 per cent support, 50% against and 3% undecided.
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The responses were identical for the same question, excluding members only bars.
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The opinion poll suggests that while they may be divided on the issue of pubs that do not serve food, there is a clear majority (68%) who would like to ban pregnant mothers from smoking as opposed to 30% who disagreed and 2% who were undecided.
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On whether people should be banned from smoking in homes with children 69 per cent agreed, 28% disagreed and 2% were undecided.
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Notes to Editors
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Any use of the material contained in this press release must credit 91Èȱ¬ Newsnight.
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ICM questioned 1,003 people by telephone over the weekend of 11 and 12 February.
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Newsnight is 91Èȱ¬ TWO's flagship current affairs programme.
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On air since 1980 its role is to be thought-provoking and informative, analysing complex issues in-depth with high quality and hard hitting films. It is watched by 6.5 million viewers a week.
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