Tobacco chief backs partial ban

An official from the world's second largest cigarette company will today accept the principle of a selective ban on smoking in public in London.

In a submission to the Greater London Authority, Dr Chris Proctor, head of science and regulation for British American Tobacco, will say smoking bans are "common sense" around children.

He will also call for greater consideration for people with respiratory problems but will dismiss claims that passive smoking has been proven to damage health.

Dr Proctor's submission drew criticism today from Trevor Phillips, deputy chairman of the London Assembly, who has called for a complete ban on public smoking in London. He accused BAT of wishing to continue "killing people for profit".

In evidence to the assembly's Smoking In Public Places Investigative Committee, Dr Proctor will say there are "many occasions" when smoking is inappropriate. He will add: "London's restaurants, bars and pubs should be inviting to non smokersand smokers alike but smoky atmospheres can be unpleasant. We believe in practical solutions involving all interested parties, not smoking bans everywhere."

Dr Proctor will say: "Some people claim non smokers risk getting chronic diseases because of exposure to tobacco smoke but in our view there is no convincing evidence of this."

Mr Phillips, speaking in a personal capacity, said of BAT: "They want to make us so grateful that they are now against gassing children that we will let them carry on poisoning everyone else."