THE revelation that over 17,000 children attend hospital every year due to the effects of passive smoking does not surprise me. Alas, many of the older generation worry incessantly about their grandchildren, knowing that, like any form of compulsive addiction, the ones who cause the problem convince themselves, selfishly, that it does not do any harm.

They fall back on the remark that there are so many hazards in the world, one more does not matter. I say they can choose, but permit children - and non-smokers - the privilege of clean air.

As a smoked up to 30-odd years ago - educated by the sight of a black pickled lung - I find that, like many of my generation, smoke free zones are at a premium. Whilst money is made from any easily sold commodity -- and tax is derived from it - no satisfactory conclusion will ever be reached.

Gordon Ross,

Huntington Road, York.