Public health minister Caroline Flint has urged businesses to start preparations now for the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places in England, which comes into effect on 1 July 2007.

The National Smokefree England Stakeholder Conference, held in London earlier this week, brought businesses and trade bodies from across the country together to share views on how businesses can make the transition to becoming smoke-free as smooth as possible.

Speaking at the conference, Flint said: "Our smoke-free legislation will produce the single biggest improvement in public health for a generation. Currently, only 51% of the workforce enjoy a totally smoke-free environment. This legislation will increase that number to more than 99%. The evidence is clear - secondhand smoke kills and there is no safe level of exposure."

By law, virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England will be required to be smoke-free from 6.00am on 1 July. An estimated 3.7 million businesses and workplaces in England will be directly affected.