HC Deb 11 June 1998 vol 313 cc1193-4
17. Mr. Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale, West)

When he plans to publish an employment impact assessment of the effect of the EU tobacco advertising directive on UK employment. [43772]

The Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities (Mr. Andrew Smith)

A preliminary regulatory appraisal was produced as part of the parliamentary scrutiny of the EU proposals and was deposited in the Library on 2 December. An updated assessment, including any employment effects, will be included in the White Paper, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will publish later this year.

Mr. Brady

I thank the Minister for that response. Does he share my concern that an employment impact assessment after the Government decided to support the directive is of questionable value? Does he further share my concern that the Employment Commissioner, Mr. Padraig Flynn, has explicitly ruled out conducting an employment impact assessment across the European Union? If the Government think that such an assessment is worth doing, why does not the Commission?

Mr. Smith

As I think the hon. Gentleman should know, when the Select Committee on European Legislation and Standing Committee B examined this proposal, they debated these matters in great detail and decided that the proper procedure had been complied with throughout. The hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends should take note of the fact that 61 per cent. of respondents to the 1996 Office for National Statistics attitudes survey said that they did not think tobacco advertising should be allowed. The Government are not only implementing an important manifesto commitment, but going with the will of the people and implementing proposals that will be good for the public's health.

Mr. Peter L. Pike (Burnley)

We cannot disregard the employment implications altogether, but is it not somewhat sad that Conservative Members still do not believe that tobacco advertising has implications for the health of our constituents. We only have to look at what is happening in our hospitals—the deaths, amputations and other operations—to realise that the directive is right and should be fully supported by hon. Members on both sides of the House.

Mr. Smith

My hon. Friend is right. This is a manifesto commitment. It will save lives and it is good for health. It makes sense to get on with it.