§ Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health on what assessment he has made of the evidence from New Zealand on the effects of tobacco consumption of the ban on tobacco advertising imposed in December 1990.
§ Mr. DorrellChanges in New Zealand's attitude to smoking led to a decline in tobacco consumption before the imposition of the ban and this decline has continued. At the same time, economic factors such as a fall in incomes have had an impact on consumption. The available data refer to a short time period, during which the "transitory shock" of the publicity surrounding the ban would have been operating. We have asked officials to keep us up to date on the evidence as it becomes available.