§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish statistics showing recent trends in the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Protection of Children (Tobacco) Act 1986.
§ Mrs. CurrieInformation up to 1986 will be available later in the year. The latest available statistics on recent trends are as follows:
(a) Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking (Great Britain) Adults Children1 (11–16 years) Men Women Boys Girls Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 21978 45 37 — — 1982 38 33 11 11 1984 36 32 13 13 Source:
General Household Survey (OPCS).
Smoking Among Secondary School Children (OPCS) 1984.
1 Those smoking at least one cigarette a week.
2 Information on children's smoking not available.
(b) Prevalance of smoking among men of other tobacco products (Great Britain) Pipes Cigars Per cent. Per cent. 1972 14 13 1978 10 16 1984 1— 10 Source: General Household Survey (OPCS).
1 Data not collected.
survey (OPCS) and "Smoking Among Secondary School Children" in 1984 (OPCS). Copies are available in the Library.
NB. The Protection of Children (Tobacco) Act came into force on 8 October 1986. A circular (LAC (86)14) was issued 427W to local authorities and other bodies with an interest to draw their attention to the provisions and purposes of the Act. As yet there are no centrally available statistics on prosecutions under the Act.