Health ministers suppressed the results of a study revealing overwhelming public opposition to exempting non-food pubs from a smoking ban, it has emerged.

More than 90 per cent of respondents to the Department of Health's consultation demanded a total smoking ban in all pubs.

The Telegraph & Argus Clear the Air campaign is also calling for a total ban on smoking in all public places.

The results of the consultation were not released when ministers published the Health Bill one month ago and were only finally issued under Freedom of Information rules, to a cancer charity.

The row blew up just hours after England's chief medical officer condemned the Government's policy as "unworkable" and revealed he came close to quitting in disgust at its timidity.

Professor Liam Donaldson told the health select committee it was the only time in seven years in the post that his medical advice had been ignored by ministers. And he warned a partial ban would widen the North-South health gap as smoking would survive in more Northern pubs, fewer of which serve food.

The twin blows to the smoking fudge will make it even harder for ministers to defend the policy when the Health Bill is debated by MPs next Tuesday.

Professor Alex Markham, of Cancer Research UK which forced the publication, said: "This document confirms that support for comprehensive smoke-free legislation was overwhelming.

"The Government asked people for their views on an issue affecting their health and then ignored their response. This is undemocratic and unacceptable."

And Dr Beverly Malone, of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "The Government's decision to dismiss the views of 90 per cent of people opposed to exemptions for pubs not serving food is deeply disappointing.

"This gives little regard to workers who will continue to breathe in the smoke of others and brings into question the process and purpose of the consultation."

But Caroline Flint, the public health minister, insisted she had intended to publish the results of the consultation before next Tuesday's second reading of the Bill. Many of the 57,000 replies had been "postcard campaigns" by anti-smoking groups. Polls had consistently showed public opposition to a total pub smoking ban, she said.

Explaining his decision not to quit, Prof Donaldson told MPs: "My feeling is that this will eventually come - and it's more likely to come if I stay in my post and continue to champion it."

The Government has tried to counter criticism by bringing forward implementation of the ban in restaurants and food-serving pubs by 12 months to 2007.

Madge Boyle, Bradford District Health Development Partnerships Tobacco Programme Manager, said the ban on smoking in enclosed public places did not go far enough.

"The employee who works in a smoke-filled pub or private members' club has the right to have his or her health protected," she said.