§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the £2 million sponsorship campaign of the State Express Company directed at sport falls within the code of practice recently negotiated with the tobacco industry; if he was consulted by the manufacturers of the brand; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe agreement provides for a reasonable level of expenditure on sports sponsorship by tobacco companies which have not hitherto participated significantly in this activity. The extent to which the cost of this sponsorship campaign may be judged reasonable must depend upon the amount of expenditure it actually incurs under its challenge scheme in the initial period—June to Sep-462W tember—and upon any future plans the company may have. I have asked the company to keep me closely informed on both aspects.