Anti-smoking campaigners have reacted with dismay after the Government pledged to push ahead with its partial smoking ban in enclosed public places.

Groups including the British Medical Association, the British Heart Foundation and Action on Smoking and Health had pushed for ministers to drop exemptions for non-food pubs and private members' clubs.

The Telegraph & Argus has also campaigned for smoke-free public places through our Clear the Air Campaign.

But campaigners have been left disappointed as Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced that the final health bill to be put before Parliament today would keep these exemptions after opposition to a total ban.

James Johnson, of the BMA, expressed "utter disappointment" at the "wasted opportunity to protect the public's health" He said: "The Government has thrown away the opportunity of a lifetime to protect the public's health. It is astonishing. I cannot believe that, after consulting for three months, this Government had decided not to listen to the vast amount of conclusive evidence that second-hand smoke kills and what was needed was a total ban. They are letting down people all over the country leaving workers in England exposed to health dangers from which their colleagues in Scotland, Northern Ireland and potentially Wales, are protected."

Madge Boyle, Bradford District Health Development Partnerships Tobacco Programme manager, said: "Second-hand smoke is a major health hazard, there is no safe level of exposure.

"Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Welsh Assembly have recognised this and taken on board the evidence from the report by the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH). Comprehensive smoke-free legislation is the only option that will protect workers and members of the public from the damage that can be caused by second-hand smoke.

"Separate smoking areas are entirely ineffective and we know that smoke drifts. The Government legislation needs to support the findings by SCOTH and make all enclosed places smoke free without making exemptions for pubs and working men's clubs."

In a response to the Government on the proposed legislation, Bradford Council said a total ban would be the easiest to enforce and for businesses to understand. A Bradford Council spokesman said: "The Council had made a formal response to the Government's consultation on whether smoking in public places should be totally controlled or whether there should be exemptions."