Nine out of ten businesses say that the implementation of the smoking ban has been successful.

A three-month survey by the Department of Health into the effects of the ban also found that three quarters of adults support the law and 79 per cent believe it will have a positive effect on public health.

According to health minister Dawn Primarolo, 98 per cent of companies surveyed were found to be compliant with the new law with 84 per cent were displaying the correct signage.

The survey inspected more than 275,000 businesses between 1 July and the end of September.

Primarolo said: “Today's encouraging report confirms that smokefree law is not only popular, but that the vast majority of the general public believe it is good for public health.

“People of all ages are reaping the benefits of healthier, less smoky work and social environments, which in turn are seen as an incentive for many to get out and socialise more.”