SOME pub landlords are planning to ditch serving food to beat the Government's controversial smoking ban.

A national survey carried out by Cancer Research UK and anti-smoking group ASH has revealed 19% of pubs in Yorkshire are planning to stop serving food.

Currently 38% of pubs do not serve food and will therefore be exempt from any type of smoking ban if current proposals are agreed.

Yesterday was the final deadline for consultation of the smoke-free workplace proposals and ASH and Cancer Research UK are now pushing for even tighter legislation.

ASH director Deborah Arnott said: "This survey shows the Government is threatening to undermine the enormous public health benefits of its smoke free legislation by exempting many pubs and clubs. These will be heavily concentrated in the poorest communities across the country - areas generally represented by Labour MPs.

"And of course exemptions would leave many workers at most risk from the damage caused by second-hand smoke."

Chairman of the Brighouse-based Federation of Licensed Victuallers , Tony Payne, is also worried about the findings.

He fears many pubs will be forced to close if they cannot accommodate both smokers and people eating.

"People who smoke have rights too and it is not fair they should be outcasts," said Mr Payne.

"We have long supported the need to protect staff, but there has to be a compromise.

"We have compiled a report and sent it to the Government.

"What we think is people should be allowed to smoke in pubs, but it should be in areas where staff do not have to go.

"In larger pubs that could mean having a separate smoking room.

"Then people eating in other areas would not be bothered by the smoke.

"The biggest problem is if people cannot smoke in pubs, they will do it in their homes and buy alcohol from elsewhere, and pushing people towards smoking at home is exactly what the Government does not want because it is likely to increase smoking environments for children."