SMOKING will be banned in all pubs, clubs and workplaces from next year after historic votes in the Commons last night.

After last-minute appeals from health campaigners, MPs opted for a blanket prohibition which will start in summer 2007, ending months of argument over whether smoking should be barred in pubs and restaurants only. They voted to ban smoking in all pubs and clubs by 384 to 184, a surprisingly large majority of 200.

Smoking will still be allowed in the home and in places considered to be homes, such as prisons, care homes and hotels. But there are difficult decisions to be made on exemptions for places such as oil rigs, where smoking outside the workplace would be dangerous.

Smokers lighting up in banned areas will face a fixed penalty notice of £50 and spot fines of £200 will be introduced for failing to display no-smoking signs, with the possible penalty if the issue goes to court increasing to £1,000.

Caroline Flint, the Public Health Minister, also announced that the fine for failing to stop people smoking in banned areas would be increased to £2,500 — more than ten times the £200 originally proposed.

The Bill also allows the Government to increase the age for buying cigarettes. Ministers will consult on raising it from 16 to 18.

Smoking could still be banned at outdoor locations that are “substantially enclosed”, such as football grounds and railway platforms. The details will be contained in regulations after a three-month consultation.

No decision has yet been made on whether smoking will be banned in cars carrying passengers.

Last night’s votes bring England into line with the rest of the United Kingdom. The Bill now goes to the Lords but will be through by the summer recess.

Even a plan to allow smoking to continue in private clubs was thrown out as MPs on all sides were given permission to vote with their consciences rather than on a party line.

Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, who had earlier in the day backed the private clubs concession, changed her mind during the day.

Tony Blair, who also voted for the complete ban, had given his MPs a free vote after it became clear that the partial ban for pubs and clubs serving food, which was promised in the election manifesto, would be defeated in favour of a more hardline position.

With some ministers worried about a voter backlash if the ban applied to private clubs, Ms Hewitt had earlier in the day said there were strong arguments for excluding such premises. During a passionate debate she even promised new safeguards, suggesting that smoking in private clubs would be subject to annual votes of members and that smoking would not be allowed in the bar.

But just before voting began at 6.50pm, her spokesman said she would be supporting the full ban after being swayed by the debate.

Ms Hewitt said the Health Bill would ban smoking in “virtually every enclosed public place and workplace” in England and save thousands of lives a year. Smoke-free workplaces and public places “will become the norm”.

She said: “An additional 600,000 people will give up smoking as a result of this law and millions more will be protected from second-hand smoke.”

Peter Hollins, director-general of the British Heart Foundation, said: “The vote is a landmark victory for the public health of this country and will save the lives of many people.

“We commend MPs for voting for the only acceptable result for the nation’s workers — legislation that protects everyone.”

MPs voted for the ban knowing that their own workplace would not be affected. As a Royal Palace the precincts are exempt from statutory health and safety provisions.

• The following members of the Cabinet voted for smoking to continue in private clubs: John Hutton, Alan Johnson, Tessa Jowell, Ruth Kelly, John Prescott and John Reid.

  The following members of the Shadow Cabinet did likewise: Peter Ainsworth, Alan Duncan, Liam Fox, Chris Grayling, William Hague, Philip Hammond, Cheryl Gillan, Andrew Lansley, Oliver Letwin, Theresa May, Andrew Mitchell, Hugo Swire and Theresa Villiers.

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