§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what professional advice he has taken on the minimum effective expenditure on an advertising campaign intended to reduce significantly the numbers of teenagers who start and continue to smoke cigarettes; from whom he has taken it; what changes in policy and spending he made as a result; and if he will make a statement. [29675]
§ Ms JowellIn developing campaigns aimed at teenagers, the Department takes advice from the Health Education Authority and Brewer Blackler Limited, the agencies running the current teenage smoking campaigns. This advice ensures the most effective use of the available resources.
Future plans will be set out in the forthcoming Tobacco Control White Paper and consultations now taking place will inform future expenditure planning.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to reduce smoking among young people. [30574]
§ Ms JowellOur strategy on smoking, including plans to reduce smoking among young people, will be set out in detail in the Tobacco Control White Paper to be published later this year.
Currently we fund a campaign called "Respect" which is targeting approximately 3 million teenagers (11 to 15 year olds). The campaign addresses the reasons why young people start smoking and seeks to create a positive lifestyle as relevant to the two thirds of teenagers who do not smoke as to the third who do. The campaign is costing up to £1 million a year for 3 years (from July 1996).