§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions his Department has had with local authority chief executives regarding the removal of billboard tobacco advertising; and what funding has been given to local authority trading standards teams to help in the removal of billboard tobacco advertising. [106571]
§ Ms BlearsI have been asked to reply.
No specific discussions have taken place with local authority chief executives and no specific additional funding has been provided to local authority trading standards departments regarding the removal of billboard tobacco advertising. The Department of Health published its consultation document on the regulations to the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 with provisions concerning the removal of billboard advertising and a risk impact assessment. The consultation exercise ran from 22 August 2002 to 15 November 2002, which included local authority chief executives. A copy of the consultation document is available in the Library.