The Government is considering a pledge to ban smoking in the workplace in its election manifesto, according to a leaked document.

The plans emerged as doctors yesterday issued the Government with a giant "prescription" calling for a ban on smoking in the workplace.

Delegates at the conference of the British Medical Association (BMA) also heard 4,500 letters from doctors concerned about the negative health effects of tobacco would to be sent to the Prime Minister.

News of Labour's proposal came in a leaked document as new research found the dangers of passive smoking could be greater than previously estimated.

Earlier this month, the BMA urged 1,000 doctors to write to Tony Blair urging him to end passive smoking with a ban in workplaces such as pubs and restaurants.

By the end of the month it had received 4,500 letters.

Dr Peter Maguire, deputy chairman of the BMA board of science, led calls for the UK Government to follow the lead of countries like Ireland and Norway.

The possibility of giving local authorities powers to introduce bans at work and in public places was a key theme of the Government's public consultation exercise - the Big Conversation - carried out over the past few months.

The leaked policy document is the first indication of the outcome of the exercise and will be discussed by Labour's Policy Forum next month.

A Labour spokesman said: "The draft document reflects the concerns raised by party members on this issue but does not draw definitive conclusions."

Thursday July 01, 2004