Religious equality could be last gasp for smokers

Regarding PM’s news story “HR allows smoking breaks, so why not time off for prayer?” (24 July), I suggest the case for smoking breaks is heading for a radical rethink.

Time off for prayers is a religious equality issue. Just as devout Muslims want to pray five times a day, so do Catholics value attending mass. If Catholics are not allowed time off for mass, the case for Muslim prayer time is diminished – the corollary being that allowing Muslims prayer time creates a legitimate case for Catholics and other faiths being allowed time for their devotions. Religious equality will be the key measure.