Can people still smoke in parts of the house of commons?
Answers:
hi gwen
The House of Commons voted in February 2006, in favour of a ban on smoking in public places, including most controversially, pubs, clubs and private members establishments. This, however, was a decision for the people to make.
This does not mean a referendum on every issue which comes to the fore, but what it does signify is an attempt to try to compensate for the disgraceful lack of democratic legitimacy which resides in Parliament over issues such as these.
There is a distinction to make, between places of work and food, and other places of leisure such as pubs or clubs. Much of the justification for this ban comes from research which suggests a direct link between passive smoking and ill-health. It is said therefore that the freedom of the individual to light up a cigarette, ends as soon as the smoke enters another's nose.
Make no mistake, the ban makes sense for the majority of enclosed spaces; my principle objection however is the application of it to pubs and clubs. In such places, smoking is an activity enjoyed by many. People should not forget that most of our actions have a social cost. This was the reasoning behind the Volstead Act in America, and the period of prohibition. How many of you with agree with that today?
It is estimated that the ban in Ireland has already lead to the closure of around 400 pubs. Beyond the likely impact that the ban will have on business and peoples jobs, there are also potential difficulties in its enforcement, which are likely to make the ban unworkable. Pubs and bars are already trying to find ways of bending the rules so to speak, so as to fall-short of the definition of an enclosed space. It will still be perfectly acceptable for a smoker sitting right next to you in the beer-garden, to light up and for you to fall victim to passive-smoking, providing they are not doing so in an enclosed space.
THe simple answer to this is yes, in the members bar.
you can indeed. normal rules dont apply to the elite!
Yes I am sure they can, I mean they are special so they do not have to abide by the law like us normal people
Do you want the truth, or do you want prejudices confimed? Because this question keeps getting asked and allows a flood of indignation from people who have already answered the question in their own minds.
The House of Commons (and Lords) as the Palace of Westminster has Crown Immunity. This has many effects with regard to Health and Safety legislation, and one of these is that the Workplace Smoking Ban, which came into place on 1st July does not apply.
However, members and peers decided to impose their own smoking ban, on the same terms as if the law did apply. Smoking in the Palace of Westminster is only allowed in a couple of designated sites on the outdoor terrace. Smoking is not allowed in any bars or meeting rooms inside the palace.
A rare case of parliament doing the right thing.
Now if you want to remove Crown Immunity, that opens up a whole new can of worms about the position of the monarchy.
Yes, there are smoking areas within the Palace of Westminster and these are located in the House of Commons members bars, etc.
The smoking ban in pubs and bars is feeding a new a growing culture of drinking on the streets. It is now common for folk to gather outside pubs and bars for a smoke and even to bring their own drinks. These people are not actually going in to the pubs.
In winter most pubs and bars will probably remain empty. They're already pretty much dead in my opinion and several of my favourites are actually putting up prices in order to remain in profit. Well 'f' them.
Another phenomenon which I heard about is that the new smoke ban in bars is now being over come by people holding bring a bottle parties at home, where there is no smoke ban.
It just gets worse. Politicians are just crap at everything they do.
It is illegal to smoke, but it's okay to drown; apparently!
Edit: Mr Sceptic above is probably a fully paid up member of that money grubbing brigade who inhabit Westminster Village, which is stick in a 1950s time-warp, where you can get drunk and not be charged with any offence and can smoke anywhere you like.
Most MPs are pissed out of their skulls while voting in new laws to curb our freedoms and liberties while at the same time raking in fast sums of money all stolen from the public purse.
These same goons even now want us to pay for their political activities. We the tax payers must pick up the tab on their profligate political campaigning.
NO!
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