LONDON, Feb. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Smoking ban in pubs and private clubs in England was passed on Tuesday in the House of Commons by a massive margin of 284 votes.

    Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the change, expected to take effect in the summer of 2007, would "save thousands of people's lives", Sky news reported.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair was also reported to have voted to overturn his own government's policy of exempting private clubs and those pubs that do not serve food, despite the ruling Labor's promise of a partial ban in its manifesto.

    Smoking is already to be banned in pubs and clubs in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

    The Health Bill gives the Welsh Assembly the right to decide whether to implement a ban it has approved twice in principle.

    The Health Secretary called the passage of the bill "a historic day for public health," which is going to "save thousands of people's lives".

    It is reported that every day around 30 people die in Britain as a result of second-hand smoking.

    The government predicts that some 600,000 people will give up smoking because of the change in the Health Bill. Enditem