Smoking (Hansard, 9 January 2001)

§ 31. Mr. Gerrard
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in preventing young people from taking up smoking. [142926]
530W

§ 36. Mr. Levitt
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in preventing young people taking up smoking. [142931]

§ Yvette Cooper
"Smoking Kills", published in December 1998, committed us to reducing smoking among children aged 11–15 from 13 per cent. to 11 per cent. by 2005 and 9 per cent. by 2010.
As part of its comprehensive programme of action in preventing teenage from taking up smoking we are taking a number of measures.
We have consistently raised the duty on cigarettes by 5 per cent. above the rate of inflation. High prices are particularly effective in dissuading young people from smoking.
The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill published on 14 December will ensure that tobacco is no longer promoted through advertising, sponsorship or other promotional schemes. The brands most heavily advertised are those most heavily smoked by children.
On 13 September we launched an enforcement protocol with local authorities to strengthen the enforcement of the existing legislation on under-age sales of cigarettes.
Our tobacco education campaign, launched in December 1999, is aimed at persuading smokers to give up and non-smokers, particularly children, not to start. As part of the broader campaign we are planning a dedicated sub-campaign aimed at young people, to be launched next year.
The most recent survey results indicate that smoking among children aged 11–15 is now already at 9 per cent. This is very encouraging, but we are not complacent and are working to ensure that this downward trend continues.