Part of First Minister's Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 12:00 pm on 29 March 2007.
Stewart Maxwell
Scottish National Party
12:00,
29 March 2007
I welcome the First Minister's comments on the success of the first year of the smoking ban, although I remind him what he said a few short years ago. According to The Scotsman in 2004
"Jack McConnell, the First Minister, has stated that his preference would not be for a total ban."
The Sun said that the First Minister
"shied away from a total ban."
The Evening News said that the First Minister
"has ruled out suggestions that could lead to a complete ban on smoking in public places."
According to The Herald, the First Minister said that an overall ban would be impractical. Given his complete support for the ban now, does the First Minister regret his previous comments in 2003 and 2004 opposing a ban? Does he find it rather embarrassing that when I lodged a motion supporting a ban on smoking in public places, not one, solitary, Labour member supported it?
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