Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the enforcement of no smoking policies on NHS hospital grounds in England.

Smoking has been prohibited by law in virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed workplaces and public places, including hospital buildings, throughout the United Kingdom since July 2007. Smoke-free legislation in England forms part of the Health Act 2006 and The Children and Families Act 2014.

Enforcement powers for smoke-free places are given to local authorities, who must identify appropriate officers to enforce smoke-free regulations. The most appropriate team for this will vary by local authority but powers are most commonly assigned to teams of officers covering environmental health, health and safety or a similar area.

Smoke-free policies in National Health Service hospital grounds in England go beyond requirements by law and are developed and implemented by the local NHS trust.