§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research has been sponsored by his Department since 1979 into devising methods of helping people reduce or end cigarette smoking.
§ Mr. John PattenA number of studies have been commissioned. One currently in progress at the Maudsley hospital is testing the effectiveness of different treatment methods with a view to developing a new type of smokers' clinic that could function as a local centre to help reduce smoking. A major study carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys into smokers' attitudes and behaviour was published in 1983 and the results applied to health education campaigns to persuade smokers to stop. In addition, the Government-funded 233W Health Education Council last year published research into the role of specialist treatment services in helping people stop smoking.