§ Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the amount provided last year to the Health Education Council for its work on the health hazards of cigarette smoking; and what is the amount she proposes to allocate for this year.
§ Dr. OwenThe expenditure of the Health Education Council on the health hazards of cigarette smoking in the last five financial years has been 1969–70, £100,000; 1970–71, £115,000; 1971–72, £302,000; 1972–73, £378,000; 1973–74. £678,000.
The Health Education Council's proposals for expenditure on smoking and health in the current financial year are at present being considered as part of my review of the effectiveness of the various measures taken by Governments in recent years in the light of the increase in cigarette consumption by nearly 7 per cent. in 1972 and by about 5 per cent. in 1973 over the previous calendar year.