§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to implement and enforce the Protection of Children (Tobacco) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayCircular NHS 1986(GEN)21 was sent on 2 October to general managers of health boards describing the content and implications of the Protection of Children (Tobacco) Act 1986 which came into force on 8 October 1986. The circular was also sent to chief constables, directors of education, directors of social work, health education officers, procurators fiscal, regional reporters to children's panels and regional chairmen of children's panels. Copies of the circular, which also refers to research undertaken into the incidence of smoking among secondary school children and suggests that the new Act clarifies the law and simplifies its enforcement by putting all tobacco products, including oral tobacco in sachets, on the same footing as cigarettes, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and publicised by means of a news release.