§ Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what involvement his Department had in the promotion of national non-smoking day on 9 February; what steps are being taken to measure its effectiveness; and what estimate he has of the number of people who have given up smoking tobacco as a result.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI sent a letter of support to the National Society of Non-Smokers which organised the event, and one of the Department's nursing officers addressed a meeting held to launch the day at the Epsom district hospital. I understand from the society, which is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions, that, due to shortage of funds, only a token effort to measure the effectiveness of the day was possible, but that it hopes to incorporate evaluation into next year's event. The society hopes to include in that evaluation some assessment of the number of people who gave up smoking as a result of this year's day.
§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of evidence from his 415W Department's surveys that a large majority of smokers and non-smokers would approve of further restrictions of smoking in public places, he will consider further action to curb the incidence of smoking.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI have no such evidence, but we shall continue to encourage those responsible for public places to make further progress in providing non-smoking areas.