§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek to revise the voluntary agreements with tobacco companies on promotion of tobacco products to include a prohibition on the distribution of free cigarettes to young people in nightclubs; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. DorrellThe Committee for Monitoring the Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship—COMATAS—has considered complaints relating to such activities, and is satisfied that the conduct of those promotions it has examined complied with the terms of the voluntary agreement. The promotional team may only offer cigarettes to smokers over 18 years old, and the venues are licensed premises where under-18s are excluded by management. If the hon. Member has any evidence to the contrary, the committee would be pleased to examine it.