HL Deb 04 December 1986 vol 482 cc929-30

3.6 p.m.

Baroness Lockwood

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the negotiations between the Tobacco Advisory Committee and the Department of the Environment on sports sponsorship.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Skelmersdale)

My Lords, negotiations between the Tobacco Advisory Council and the Department of the Environment on a new voluntary agreement on the sponsorship of sport look to be nearing completion. I hope that it will be possible to publish the new agreement before the Recess.

Baroness Lockwood

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord the Minister for his reply which is encouraging to a certain extent. Perhaps I may ask him whether he is aware, for example, of the damage that has been done to the credibility of the Advertising Standards Authority, which is responsible for overseeing advertising codes, by the inconsistent rules governing tobacco advertising, particularly in relation to sponsorship. Can he assure the House that he will take into account the points that have been put to the department by the Advertising Standards Authority on this matter?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I can assure the noble Baroness that the department consulted very widely on this matter, and all views have been taken into account.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, does the Minister recall that when this matter was raised in the House about a year ago a promise was made to consult Parliament at the time the agreement was made? Can the Minister tell us whether there is an intention to do that? The Minister talked about the voluntary agreement being published. Will there be an opportunity for the matter to be raised in the House? Will the Minister also take the opportunity of explaining why the agreement needs to be voluntary, bearing in mind that more than 100,000 people die each year from tobacco-related incidents?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I do not recall the occasion in the House to which the noble Lord, Lord Graham, has just referred. In accordance with previous practice, both Houses will be informed of the terms of any new agreements when they have been made. On the question of a statutory or a voluntary ban, we have always had a voluntary ban up to now and the latest figures available show that 36 per cent. of men and 32 per cent. of women now smoke, compared with 52 per cent. and 41 per cent. respectively in 1972. So the voluntary ban does in fact work.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, perhaps I may help the noble Lord by referring to the Official Report of 22nd October last year (col. 956), when the Lord President of the Council responded to a point made by my noble friend Lord Ennals, who asked: will the Leader of the House recognise that there is very great concern that this issue should be discussed by both Houses before a decision is taken? The noble Viscount the Leader of the House replied: I am willing to discuss through the usual channels whether such a debate would help". I am simply asking whether those discussions took place. Even if they did not, there would still be value in having a debate.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I must say that I am totally mystified. I am absolutely certain that the noble Lord has presented a correct record as to what happened on that occasion. I do not know whether or not discussions took place through the usual channels