HC Deb 11 May 1995 vol 259 cc568-9W
Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide tables showing for each 5p between 5p and £1, her estimate of the effect on consumption of an increase in the purchase price of an average(a) packet of 20 cigarettes, (b) 250 g of hand-rolling tobacco, (c) packet of five cigars and (d) 250 g of pipe tobacco. [22991]

Mr. Sackville

The Department does not hold figures on the effect of price on the consumption of specific tobacco products holding a minor share of the market, such as hand-rolling tobacco, cigars or pipe tobacco. However, studies have shown that a 10 per cent. increase in the price of tobacco products can be expected to lead to a drop of between 3 per cent. and 6 per cent. in consumption. Working on the basis of this relationship the effect of price increases on a packet of cigarettes costing £2.70 would be as follows:

Increase in price Percentage decrease in consumption Per cent.
5p 0.6–1.1
10p 1.1–2.2
15p 1.6–3.2
20p 2.1–4.2
25p 2.6–5.2
30p 3.1–6.1
35p 3.6–7.1
40p 4.1–8.0
45p 4.5–8.8
50p 5.0–9.7
55p 5.4–10.6
60p 5.8–11.3
65p 6.3–12.1
70p 6.7–12.9
75p 7.1–13.7
80p 7.5–14.4
85p 7.9–15.1
90p 8.3–15.9
95p 8.7–16.6
100p 9.0–17.2

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her most recent assessment of the relationship between cigarette advertising and the level of smoking-related illness. [22672]

Mr. Sackville

In 1992, the Department of Health reviewed all the available evidence on the effect of tobacco advertising on tobacco consumption. The findings were published as a discussion document, "Effect of Tobacco Advertising on Tobacco Consumption", copies of which are available in the Library.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's assessment of the relationship of the price of tobacco products to health. [23002]

Mr. Sackville

Studies show that a 10 per cent. increase in the price of tobacco products would be expected to lead to a reduction in consumption of between 3 per cent. and 6 per cent. Since tobacco consumption is harmful to health, increases in price can therefore be expected to have a beneficial effect on health.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she last discussed, and when she next plans to discuss, tobacco pricing with a(a) European Union health ministers and (b) Group of Seven member country Health Ministers; and if she will make a statement. [22954]

Mr. Sackville

The European Community Health Council last discussed smoking at its meeting on 22 December 1994, including the importance of price in reducing tobacco consumption. There is no specific date for the next discussion, although this issue is regularly raised at meetings between Ministers and other European Health Ministers. Indirect taxation issues are of course a matter for Finance Ministers.

There have been no meeting of the Group of Seven member country Health Ministers, nor are any planned.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the percentage of the population by(a) age, (b) sex and (c) socio-economic grouping consuming each different type of tobacco product for each year since 1965; and if she will give her estimate of levels of consumption for the current year among each of these groups. [22992]

Mr. Sackville

The available data will be placed in the Library.

The tables give the percentage of adults estimated to smoke cigarettes, cigars and pipes and of under-16s estimated to smoke cigarettes. Data on other types of tobacco products are not available.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received in the last year concerning the effect of the price of tobacco products on levels of consumption; how many have been in favour of (a) an increase and(b) a decrease in price; and if she will list the representations received. [22953]

Mr. Sackville

Tobacco taxation policy is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The available records show that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health received 12 letters on this subject in the last year. Six of the correspondents were in favour of price increases, four wished to see no further rise, while the remaining two suggested that price rises would not achieve any reduction in consumption.