§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the effects upon health of smoking and tobacco advertising.
§ Mr. David HuntI am very concerned about the damage that smoking can do. This has been reflected in the protocols for investment in health gain in the areas of cancers, cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases and in the Health Promotion Authority for Wales' strategy documents which I have endorsed. I am determined that we should reach the targets proposed in these documents.
598WThe Government have consistently taken the view that the best way to control the promotion and advertising of cigarettes is through a continuation of the successful and recently enhanced system of voluntary agreements between the Government and the tobacco industry. Although complex, the system is comprehensive in its coverage. It is designed to ensure that tobacco advertising is not aimed specifically at the young and, combined as it is with a total ban on television advertising of all tobacco products, the Government believe it is effective.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to set a target for Wales of a 40 per cent. reduction in the number of people who smoke by the year 2000.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe Health Promotion Authority for Wales has recently published targets for reductions in smoking in its document "The Agenda for 1992–94".
This includes a target reduction of 43 per cent. in adult women smokers—from 30 per cent. in 1985 to 17 per cent. by the year 2000—and a reduction of 43 per cent. in adult men smokers—from 35 per cent. in 1985 to 20 per cent. by the year 2000.