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On Tuesday, the Basque Government will give its approval for a new law intended to ban smoking in all enclosed public spaces, such as bars and restaurants, EITB can reveal.

Parliament will also consider the addition of further clauses for banning smoking in vehicles where children are travelling as well as in public playgrounds.

With this new law, Euskadi will become the first ''smoke-free'' community of the State.

The Basque Councilor for Employment and Social Affairs, Gemma Zabaleta revealed that the government expected widespread consensus regarding the new legislation, including from those within the catering industry with whom they will meet shortly.

Zabaleta added that the law represented an effort, already made in other countries in the EU, to carry out the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and the European Parliament for providing maximum protection to the health of all citizens.

In an interview with Radio Euskadi made on Tuesday, however, the President of the Basque Hostelry Federation, Tomás Sánchez, said he had yet to receive an invitation to talks with the Government regarding the issue He also criticised local Government attempts to pass a law similar to that passed by the Spanish Congress of Deputies and said it was not up to the Federation to check whether or not their clients were complying with the law.

Once the new law is passed by the Basque Parliament it is expected to come into force at the start of 2011.

A survey carried out by the Basque Government revealed that 61% of Basques were in favour of a ban on smoking.

Where will it be banned?

The new law will come into effect in a number of places, including public and private work places (except those which are outdoors), centres and offices belonging to local government, health services and establishments, schools and educational centres, sports centres and all recreational places designed for people below the age of 18 (even outdoors).

Smoking will also be banned in shopping centres, hotels, hostels, bars, restaurants, leisure and recreational centres, cultural centres, lecture and exhibition halls, theatres, cinemas, discos, all places in which food is consumed, lifts, telephone boxes, cash machines, buses and all types of private transport.

In cases where there is a lack of notification regarding the effects of smoking or the where the sale of tobacco is commercialised, these will be considered minor infractions or offences.

The publication and/or promotion of all products containing tobacco for the purpose of consumption will be considered serious infractions.