Health campaigners have expressed alarm after the British health minister, Anne Milton, announced that the government would not be proceeding with previously planned anti-smoking laws.

The legislation was proposed by the Labour government last year, as part of the 2009 Health Act.

Miss Milton said: “We have studied the smoke-free legislation and decided not to proceed with the planned review.”

She insisted that the government “are not rolling back the smoking ban, nor are we deploying austerity as an excuse for deregulation.”

The change will end plans for smoking campaigners, that had been praised by Labour for last year. These included a ban on smoking in front of buildings and in public spaces that are not already covered by the 2007 smoking ban, such as parks.

In addition, the proposals would have banned cigarette vending machines, and prevented shops from displaying cigarette advertising prominently in their windows.

A spokesperson for the British Medical Association said: “The BMA is extremely concerned that the Government will not implement the 2009 Health Act.”

“These laws are vital as they will help put an end to the loopholes that allow tobacco to be advertised to children,” he added.

Health changes underway

Miss Milton’s announcement about smoking comes as one of a series of changes announced by the Conservative government since they came to power. The government is attempting to encourage private sector firms to become more involved in the fight against obesity. The national Change4Life campaign, which was previously paid for by the taxpayer, will now be funded through food and drink companies. The government argues that this will take a burden off public funds and will encourage firms to be more responsible. Health campaigners, on the other hand, have slammed the move as being “like putting the kids in charge of the China shop.”