THIS week 15 years ago, smoking was banned in all pubs and members-only clubs within 18 months after MPs inflicted a stunning defeat on Government attempts to allow exemptions.

In a landmark Commons vote, MPs overwhelmingly threw out a proposal to exempt pubs not serving food by 453 votes to 125 - a majority of 328.

Minutes later, they voted to include members-only clubs, including workingmen’s clubs and British Legion premises, within the ban by 384 votes to 184 - a majority of 200.

The vote was immediately hailed as a major victory for public health in the North-East, which had among the worst rates of premature deaths from smoking in England.

Andy Graham, of Fresh, the Campaign for a SmokeFree North-East, said: “This is the best news for the health of the region that we’ve had in decades.

“We congratulate MPs for refusing to compromise with the lives of workers."

Also that week, Britain's first surviving heart transplant baby raised awareness of the need for children's organs at a reception at the House of Commons.

Then Britain’s longest surviving heart transplant patient Kaylee Davidson, 18, (centre) from Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear.

Then Britain’s longest surviving heart transplant patient Kaylee Davidson, 18, (centre) from Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear.

Kaylee Davidson, then 18, from Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, met MPs at the event organised by national charity the Children's Heart Foundation (CHF) to coincide with International Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Day.

At the reception, CHF warned that children with heart conditions were needlessly at risk of medical complications and death through failure to monitor surgical guidelines.

Ms Davidson, a member of support group Heart Transplant Families Together (HTFT), said it had been an opportunity to get the message across that children need organs too.

She said: "When you say 'heart transplant', most people think of adults, not a baby or teenager."