Union anger over smoking climbdown

The TUC has reacted angrily to government proposals to exempt some bar workers and workers in private clubs from the proposed workplace smoking ban.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "This is a missed opportunity that is very disappointing. The government is now going ahead with proposals that were overwhelmingly rejected in a public consultation as unworkable."

A TUC briefing putting the case against exemptions is at www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-10935-f0.cfm