Manchester council wants all of them to be no-smoking zones in a bid to cut the number of smokers in the city. But the move prompted a concerned letter from Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.The cabinet minister urged the council not to burden businesses with more red tape and to follow the legislation which caters for smoking and non-smoking customers.He warned that a ban could lead to a loss of custom and closures at a time when the government is hoping to boost the hospitality industry through initiatives such as Eat Out to Help Out.Mr Jenrick also said that the government had worked hard to reduce the harms caused by smoking, while adding that secondary smoking was less harmful outside.
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