Health talk

Health official: Smoke ban by 2007

London | November 28, 2005 12:01:13 AM IST
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt says it is "only a matter of time" before there is a complete ban on smoking in public places in England and Wales.

Speaking on the BBC's Sunday AM, she did not give a specific timescale, but said a total ban would be "simpler".

But she also defended the current proposed ban exempts pubs not serving food and some private clubs.

A total ban is due to start in Scotland next year and in Northern Ireland the year after.

"I've said several times before I think it is only a matter of time before we get to a total ban," she said.

Last month there was debate in Cabinet over possibly pushing ahead for a ban without exemptions, but after days of behind-the-scenes argument that proposal was rejected, the BBC said

Allianz AG, Europe's biggest insurer has announced an increase of 39 percent in the third-quarter pre-tax profits to €1.66 billion. This is in line with expectations even though the company was hard hit by the twin hurricanes in the United States Gulf Coast region, which cost it an estimated €753 million.

Net profits soared by 70 percent to €794 million in the three months ending September. However, this figure ended up short by about €60 million on what was expected. Pre-tax profits in Allianz' property and casualty insurance took a hit of 9 percent and fell to €866 million mainly because of the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

However these were compensated in a large measure by the increase in the profits in its banks especially its subsidiary Dresdner Bank where profits were up from €13 million to €223 million in the third quarter. Allianz Management board member Helmut Perlet was confident that the company would meet its full-year expectations and post a profit of 10 percent. Click Here