An Environment ministry spokesman has confirmed that the Anti-tobacco legislation introduced by the government at the start of last year already allows for local municipal or regional authorities to ban smoking on the beach.

The declaration came in response to a question raised in the House of Congress by CiU MP, Josep Maria Guinart, who, while mayor of L'Escala (Girona), imposed a total smoking ban on one of the town's beaches.

Mr Guinart had asked the government what measures had been taken in response to the 'Smoke-Free Beaches' initiative proposed by the CiU and ratified by the parliamentary Environmental Commission.