§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in respect of the Draft EU Directive on Tobacco Advertising if a regulatory appraisal was prepared, pursuant to the Cabinet Office Guidelines, "Regulation in the Balance"; if a risk assessment and a compliance cost assessment were prepared in respect of the same directive and, pursuant to the same guidelines; which Minister read and signed the appraisal and assessments, pursuant to the guidelines; if he will publish the regulatory appraisal compliance cost assessment and risk assessment in respect of the directive; and if all requirements of the guidelines were fulfilled in respect of this directive. [20883]
524WThe Department changed its accounting software in 1992–93 and detailed figures are not available for earlier years. The Department formed part of the Department of Health and Social Security until July 1988.
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 12 November 1997]: The information requested is available from 1982 and is shown in the table.
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 15 December 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 19 December 1997 to the Chairman of the Select Committee on European Legislation, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to give a substantive reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon on 10 December on tobacco advertising, to which a holding reply was given on 15 December; and for what reasons a holding reply was given. [21908]
525W
§ Ms JowellI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today. A holding reply was given because at the time the question was asked the matter at issue was the subject of a letter from the Chairman of the Select Committee on European Legislation to me. A reply to that letter has now been given and sets out the Government's position in full. Copies have been placed in the Library.