§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied that retailers are complying with the law forbidding the sale of tobacco to children under the age of 16 years; what representations she has received about the need for stricter enforcement of the law; and what reply she has given.
§ Dr. OwenI am not satisfied that, in general, retailers are complying with the law forbidding the sale of cigarettes to children under the age of 16 years. I have received representations from the Chairman of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) who sent me the results of a recent survey, commissioned by ASH, in which out of 50 children under 16 years of age, 43 were able to buy cigarettes at tobaconnists' shops. What clearly needs to be done is to make the present law better known, and I am taking steps to see that this is done.