The assembly administration will now call on the UK Government to give them the power to vote on a ban in places like restaurants, cafes and shopping centres.

Thirty nine assembly members backed the motion tabled by four AMs while 10 members voted against it in a free vote.

Alun Pugh AM: Passive smoking concerns

The ban on smoking had been put forward by four AMs from all parties, who are tabling the assembly equivalent of a House of Commons Private Members' Bill.

They are Alun Pugh (Clwyd West), Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire), Dai Lloyd (South Wales West), David Melding (South Wales Central).

The motion "called upon the UK Government to bring forward a public Bill relating to Wales which would provide that the Assembly could, by statutory instrument, prohibit all smoking with tobacco in such public buildings as may be specified in that instrument.

This debate is about protecting the health of Welsh children and the majority of adults in Wales who choose not to smoke Alun Pugh

The action was aimed at protecting people from the effects of passive smoking, which is linked to health problems.

Introducing the motion, Mr Pugh said he was not in favour of a total ban on smoking.

He said: "This debate is about protecting the health of Welsh children and the majority of adults in Wales who choose not to smoke.

"Because the evidence is clear - passive smoking kills."

Mr Pugh spoke of his particular concern that smoking should be banned in places where children are exposed to smoke.

He also asked members to consider the plight of low-paid workers who have no protection from smoke in their workplaces.

Kirsty Williams AM (Lib Dem, Brecon and Radnorshire) said that she was uncomfortable restricting others' freedoms, but that the freedom of non-smokers to breathe fresh air also needed to be borne in mind in deciding the issue.

Alun Cairns AM: Opposed to outright ban

Among those speaking in favour of smokers being able to light up in public were Conservative AM Alun Cairns, Labour's Peter Law and Monmouth Conservative AM David Davies.

Mr Davies told Dai Lloyd: "I think at your last party conference your party voted to legalise brothels.

"So I can't be alone in thinking it a bit ironic that anyone who visits such an establishment will be more at risk from the vice squad if they lit up a post-coital cigarette than from any activities that took place beforehand."