To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra funding is being provided to local authorities to support (a) the introduction of the smoking ban to be implemented in July and (b) on-going costs related to it under the New Burdens principle.

Full details of the funding for local authorities for delivery of smoke-free legislation in 2006-07 and 2007-08 were set out in Local Authority Circular 2006(17), published by the Department on 21 December 2006. A copy has been placed in the Library and is also available on the Department's website at:

www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/LettersAnd Circulars/LocalAuthorityCirculars/AllLocalAuthority Circulars/LocalAuthorityCircularsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT _ID=4141151&chk=R0c5pt

Following the introduction of smoke-free legislation, the Department will assess on-going cost requirements to inform funding for local authorities in future years.