In response to Sam Thomson's article (Weekend, November 6) claiming a ban on smoking in public places is "the most downright fascist policy" and smokers can have their place and non-smokers theirs, the problem is that non-smokers do not have a place in public houses.

D Cobden (Letters, November 1) says many people who voted in the survey to ban smoking don't go into a public house.

This is because there are very few public houses which have "no smoking" areas and smokers often invade those small areas. Only recently, when I was in a local pub, despite 80 per cent of the area being allocated to smokers, smoking was taking place in the 20 per cent for non-smokers.

It is because pubs, unlike many restaurants, have not provided for the majority of the population that non-smokers have no choice but to inhale smoke and have their clothes smelling of smoke if they wish to enjoy an evening in a pub.

However, as a step in the right direction, the Government is likely to introduce measures in the next Queen's Speech to ban smoking where pubs provide food.

The Welsh Assembly has asked the Government for powers so smoking can be banned in public places in Wales. Councils in Scotland have welcomed the Scottish Executive's decision to ban smoking in public places, which is expected to come into force in April 2006.

First Minister, Jack McConnell, said a total ban would be "easier to enforce and simpler to understand" than a partial restriction. I agree with him.

-Councillor Geoffrey Theobald OBE, Brighton