§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is considering taking steps to restrict the content and timing of sweet advertisements on television, following the recommendations contained in the report of the dental strategy review group.
§ Mr. MayhewI understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is consulting widely on the report and has as yet come to no conclusions on its recommendations. We would not, in the meantime, think it appropriate to consider directing the Independent Broadcasting Authority to take any steps with regard to the content and timing of sweet advertisements on television. The Authority has a statutory duty to maintain and keep under review its advertising code, which already contains certain restrictions on the content of confectionery advertisements.