§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount spent by her Department in publicity and other expenditure concerning the dangers of tobacco.
§ Mr. Alec Jones:The main expenditure on publicity concerning the dangers of tobacco smoking is incurred by the Health Education Council of which just over 90 per cent, is contributed by my Department. The figures my hon. Friend gave in reply to my hon. Friend the Member 264W for Ilford, South (Mr. Shaw) on 20th June 1974—[Vol. 875, c. 273.]—were amounts allocated for smoking in recent years. The council's actual expenditure has been as follows:
£ 1969–70 108,000 1970–71 120,000 1971–72 287,000 1972–73 414,000 1973–74 702,000 1974–75 160,000 (estimated) In addition my Department is responsible for publication of the information on tar and nicotine yields of the main brands of cigarettes on sale in this country ; the cost of the exercise is currently estimated at about £100,000 a year.