05 January 2007

The Department of Health and the Local Government Association have agreed £29.5m funding to help councils implement the smoke-free provisions of the Health Act 2006 between now and the end of 2008.

It will go to district and metropolitan councils, unitary authorities and London boroughs, which will have enforcement responsibilities for premises and vehicles, along with port health authorities.

From 1 July most enclosed workplace and public places in England will be smoke-free. As many local authorities have already begun preparing and allocating budgets, the DoH will distribute £5m immediately and the rest next financial year.

The largest allocation is for Birmingham, which will receive £655,000. Westminster will get £380,000. Before implementation, the DoH will start an awareness-raising exercise for the public and business. A DoH spokesperson said: 'The approach to enforcement should be non-confrontational.

'Enforcement officers will be expected to work closely with business and build compliance through education, advice and support before the legislation comes into force. 'Enforcement inspections should be based on risk and, where possible, combined with other regulatory inspections to reduce burdens on business.'

The DoH has commissioned the CIEH to deliver the National Smokefree Legislation Training Programme, which began in the winter of 2006 for service planners and will continue in 2007 for regulatory officers. (Details of training will be published in EHN).

The department will also provide guidance to business, free no-smoking signs, and a Smokefree England website that allows businesses to register their support for the legislation and find other local supporters. It contains advice on giving up smoking and smokefree case studies.

Ian Gray, CIEH policy officer, said the allocation was comparable with Scotland's funding.

© 2007 Chartered Institute of Environmental Health