§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the measures to implement Her Majesty's Government's plan to discourage teenagers from smoking.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Government are funding a £1 million campaign to test the effectiveness of media advertising in influencing teenagers against smoking. The 817W campaign, based on extensive research, will run for 12 months in the Tyne-Tees and TV South television regions. It will be carefully evaluated.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria Her Majesty's Government will use to assess the effectiveness of the campaign to discourage smoking.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe campaign will be evaluated by an independent research company using large-scale surveys of teenagers in the two pilot television regions and in two control regions. Factors to be used in gauging its effect will include movements in smoking prevalance and smoking behaviour, changes of attitude toward smoking and penetration of the advertising among the target audience.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to seek to restrict advertising and promotion of tobacco.
§ Mr. WhitneyDiscussions about a new voluntary agreement governing the advertising and promotion of tobacco products are being held with the tobacco industry.