§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether the submission by the Health Education Authority on the review of tobacco sponsored sport on BBC television is in accordance with the policy of Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KeyThe Government's policy is that sport should be allowed to benefit from tobacco sponsorship providing it is subject to the proper control. That control is provided by the voluntary agreement which exists between the Government and the tobacco industry. The Health Education Authority report "Tobacco and the BBC" makes recommendations about the BBC's present sports coverage. The content of its programmes is a matter for the BBC. I understand that the BBC's producers' guideliness draw attention to the voluntary agreement. The Government believe that the agreement is working well.