§ Mr. ForthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposed to take to ensure compliance by Her Majesty's Government with the proposed European Community directive on the labelling of tobacco products, with particular regard to the harmonisation of national legislation governing the labelling of manufactured tobacco.
§ Mrs. CurrieIf the European Community adopts a directive on the labelling of tobacco products, we will ensure that its terms are observed in the United Kingdom. We are anxious to maintain our system of controlling these matters by way of voluntary agreement between the Government and the tobacco industry. The European Commission is considering whether compliance by this means will be acceptable.