§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money is spent by Government on programmes to reduce smoking by children under 16 years of age.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIn 1993–94, £2,650,000 was allocated to the Health Education Authority's teenage smoking programme.
Additionally, adult anti-smoking programmes and life style programmes such as "Look After Your Heart" contain material designed to encourage parents to set a good example.
Schools are required to provide education about the dangers of smoking. They allocate resources accordingly from the funding devolved to them. Expenditure on health education programmes in schools and on local authority enforcement of the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 is not available centrally.
Under the current general practitioner contract arrangements many health professionals are working towards "The Health of the Nation" target for teenage smoking. No separate details of costs are available.