Q Some of my staff have complained about secondary or passive smoking caused by members of staff who smoke in the staff room. How can I get over this problem? Should I provide separate facilities for those members of staff that smoke?

A My view on this is clear and quite controversial. My staff are not allowed to smoke on any of my premises and that includes smoking at the back door and in the car park. Smoking is an abhorrent habit that should be banned from all public places. I have just returned from four weeks in New York City where smoking is banned in pubs and restaurants. I had a great time and spent more time in bars and restaurant than I would usually do as I was not affected by smoke. The New Yorkers I spoke to all said they were smoking less and not one of them seemed to resent the ban. Its time our Government woke up and followed the example of New York, but it will not happen voluntarily so my answer is don't make life easy for smokers. They want to stop and a ban would help them.

Q The area surrounding my business premises have become a bit of a red light district with prostitutes using the industrial estate where I am based as somewhere to ply their trade. I can't afford to move and the police say they can only do so much - what's your view?

A While I'm on my New York soapbox I'll tell you about something else I came across in the Big Apple. Prostitution has also been banned in New York because it is now illegal to buy or sell sex. Compare that with our country where there are cards and addresses for prostitutes in doorways and telephone boxes in our capital city, London. These cards often end up on the pavements and the Government should take some action and ban this practice. Do we really want out children picking up and reading these cards? If we banned the sale and purchase of sex in this country the problem would be solved Your industrial estate, like New York, would be a far cleaner and a less seedy place.

Q I have instigated a mobile phone ban in my office, which has caused some problems with my staff. The myriad of ring tones have been driving me mad - if it's not the theme from Top Cat or The Great Escape its some chart tune that I don't even recognise! They are saying they have a right to receive calls as long as its doesn't affect their work, but I think work is work and social life is separate. What do you think?

A I absolutely and totally agree with you. As much as mobile phones can be a godsend in certain situations - there is a time and a place. It is quite simple, if a caller has a genuine reason for calling one of your employees then they should call through the switchboard.

Q A couple of my employees have told me that one of their colleagues has a personal hygiene problem. I am glad they have brought this to my attention as we work with the public all the time. My only concern is how to deal with the problem. As we live in such a PC world now I don't want to say anything that will get me in trouble. Do you have any advice?

A Handle it carefully, but with an open mind. I had a similar problem once with a company I ran that employed 3,000 people. The employee in question was a female member of staff. I asked one of her senior managers to take her aside and gently and sensitively discuss the problem. During the discussions we discovered that the problem was caused by a medical condition. The employee was embarrassed by the situation, but talking helped. We helped her to find ways of combating the problem and it was resolved to the satisfaction of myself the employee and her colleagues.

Q What is your view of changing the name of Teesside Airport and will it benefit the area?

A Changing the name of the airport will not cure the more deep-rooted problem that exists outside this area. Recently I signed up to an agency in London who, when I told them I was based in County Durham asked - 'is that in Ireland'? No matter how much we kid ourselves, so much of this country's culture comes from the centre of London. The people who work in that area, whether in business or in the media, need to be educated about the geography and cultures of the rest of this country and changing an airport's name to include the word Durham won't do that. Some people in the square mile of London still find it hard to believe that we have running water and electricity in the North East. That's because, from my experience, they are thick, not because we have the wrong name. As this is my last business column before the end of 2003 I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and an extremely prosperous New Year (and, as I am in a festive mood, I'll include our uneducated friends in London in that sentiment!

Published: 16/12/2003