§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the advertisement placed in the national press and sent to every hon. Member in the publication known as the "House Magazine," a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member, for Brent, South, complies with his voluntary agreement recently concluded with the tobacco industry covering advertisements.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe voluntary agreement does not apply to advertisements such as that referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising and promotion allows advertisements intended to boost the confidence of smokers in cigarettes.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe content of cigarette advertising is regulated by the British code of advertising practice, in particular appendix H, which is under the general supervision of the Advertising Standards Authority. The code requires, among other things, that cigarette advertisements should not seek to encourage smokers to smoke more or to smoke to excess, should not claim or imply that smoking is healthy or free from risk to health, should not include or imply any personal testimonial for, or recommendation of, the product by any well-known person of distinction in any walk of life, nor should they claim directly or indirectly the recommendation of a particular brand by any group or class of people engaged in an activity or calling which particularly attracts public admiration or emulation. However, cigarette advertisements may indicate so far as is truthful that cigarettes are enjoyed by people of many different kinds and seek to persuade smokers to change their brand or not to do so.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the current advertising campaign of the cigarette industry's Tobacco Advisory Council will carry the Government's health warning on the advertisements used.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNo. The voluntary agreement with the tobacco industry requires a health warning to be included only in advertisements for cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. The Tobacco Advisory Council's current advertisements about tobacco taxation clearly do not fall into either category.