§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has for each year since 1988 on the prevalence of 11 to 15-year-old smokers.
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§ Mr. SackvilleInformation relating to the prevalence of smoking among 11 to 15-year-olds is available from the biennial Office of Population Censuses and Surveys "Smoking Among Secondary School Children", as shown in the table. A copy of the publication IN available in the Library.
Prevalence of smoking cigarettes among secondary school children, by sex England 1988–90 Per cent. Age All Pupils 11 12 13 14 15 Boys 1988
Regular 7 — 2 5 8 17 Occasional 5 3 2 5 7 7 1990 Regular 9 — 2 6 10 25 Occasional 6 4 4 5 8 10 Girls 1988
Regular 9 — — 4 12 22 Occasional 5 1 1 5 7 9 1990 Regular 11 1 2 9 16 25 Occasional 6 1 3 6 8 12 Notes:
1. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole figure.
2. "—": nil or less than 0.5.
Source: OPCS Smoking Among Secondary School Children. Definitions: Regular smokers are those pupils who smoke at least one cigarette a week. Current smokers who smoke less than one cigarette a week are classified as occasional smokers.