The Government's anti-smoking strategy is up in the air today after a row between ministers forced a delay on publication of the bill.

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus yesterday, wrangling in the cabinet, particularly between Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt and former Health Secretary and now Defence Minister John Reid, over the detail risked derailing the timetable for the Health Improve-ment and Protection Bill.

The Bill had been due to be published today, but the Department of Health has now confirmed it is postponing publication and no new date has been set.

Cabinet ministers were locked in talks last night in a bid to resolve issues.

Reports had emerged that the Health Secretary had thrashed out a deal to outlaw smoking in enclosed public places, including offices and factories, from 2007.

After heated discussions behind the scenes, she was said to have reached a compromise exempting private clubs from the ban and allowing sealed "smoking rooms" in pubs not selling food. But a Department of Health spokesman insisted ministers on the Cabinet public health sub-committee were still discussing both issues, adding: "Nothing is settled."

He told the T&A: "We are still trying to get members of the Cabinet to agree to the deal."

The legislation is understood to have caused a rift in the Cabinet, with some ministers arguing for a total tobacco ban, while others wanted to stick to promises in Labour's manifesto that clubs and non-food pubs would be exempted.

Cabinet ministers also clashed on exempting members-only clubs, meaning the Bill cannot yet be published.

Mrs Hewitt's predecessor as Health Secretary - John Reid - was said to be unhappy that establishments like working men's clubs and Royal British Legion halls might face a ban.

Mrs Hewitt herself was believed to favour an outright ban.

Ministers have also considered abandoning plans to permit smoking in pubs that do not serve food after it became clear pubs in poorer neighbourhoods would simply quit selling meals.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley claimed that the Government is in 'shambles' over the issue.

He said: "The Government has spent a year working on a completely unworkable scheme and now at the 11th hour, they've flunked it."