§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make representations to the television authorities to ensure that tobacco sponsorship is not allowed to effect circumvention of the ban on cigarette advertising as occurred in the Channel 4 programme "The Ladykillers" through a group of teenage girls discussing why they began to smoke cigarettes;
(2) what steps he is taking to protect girls and women from the efforts of the tobacco industry specifically to persuade them to smoke; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenIf the hon. Member would let me have details of the specific instances she is referring to I shall examine them and write to her. The proportion of women in Great Britain who smoke cigarettes has fallen from 41 per cent. in 1972 to 33 per cent. in 1982.