§ Mr. Lofthouseasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department collects on the scale and cost of sponsorship for sport and other recreations by tobacco companies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe sponsorship of sport by tobacco companies is restricted by a voluntary agreement between the industry and the Government. Under the terms of that agreement, tobacco companies are required to inform my Department, in confidence, of their annual plans for sports sponsorship, and any subsequent changes to them. Expenditure by tobacco companies on sports sponsorship is restricted under the agreement to the 1976 level with due allowance for inflation. Again in accordance with the agreement, the industry makes annual confidential returns to my Department showing their United Kingdom expenditure on sports sponsorship.