HC Deb 28 February 1984 vol 55 cc132-3
14. Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what support his Department is giving to national no-smoking day on Wednesday 29 February.

Mr. John Patten

Many people want to stop smoking, but find it hard to take the first step. National no-smoking day is an opportunity to think again. I welcome the efforts of those who have organised this occasion. To support them, the Government are making available immediately to the Health Education Council an extra £500,000, making a budget of £2,500,000 this year for education and publicity to persuade those who smoke to consider stopping smoking and to encourage people who have stopped not to start again. This is a 25 per cent. increase on the HEC's spending this year on its smoking education programme.

Mr. Sims

Is my hon. Friend aware that both his words and his deeds will be most welcome, particularly as he is demonstrating the high priority that he gives to this important sector of preventive medicine? Can he confirm that while, in recent years, there has been a marked decrease in smoking, which is now practised by only a minority, smoking remains the largest avoidable cause of illness and disease?

Mr. Patten

I can confirm that. I am grateful for my hon. Friend's remarks and the Government will continue their successful efforts to bring about a marked decrease in the incidence of smoking by adults.

Mr. Pavitt

I welcome the extra amount for the Health Education Council, which gets £2.5 million against the £100 million being spent by the tobacco manufacturers. Does not the hon. Gentleman recall that his predecessors, now the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young), and the Secretary of State for the Environment, gave the green light to my Bill to help prevent smoking deaths? Will he do the same thing on 23 March this year?

Mr. Patten

I thank the hon. Gentleman for bringing his Bill to my attention. I remind him, if he needs reminding, that already in the past four years the sale of cigarettes has declined by 20 per cent. and that cigarette smoking is very much a minority habit.

Mr. Tim Smith

Will my hon. Friend ask the Treasury whether it will organise a national smoking day so that the Exchequer may be able to continue to benefit from tobacco duty, and some of us may be allowed to enjoy ourselves occasionally?

Mr. Patten

I have no desire to stop my hon. Friend from enjoying himself. However, his question is one that is more properly addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Dr. M. S. Miller

What steps are the Government taking to shift the £3,000 million of taxation which they get from the tobacco industry to other forms of taxation?

Mr. Patten

That is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.