§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of NHS spending on treatment for people suffering smoking-related diseases in the most recent available year; and if he will make a statement. [17945]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsSmoking contributes to a number of illness and disabilities, the treatment costs for which are not all readily identifiable from estimates of primary and acute service costs.
The last estimate of the cost was compiled for the Health Promotion Authority for Wales in 1993 on research and surveys carried out in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This indicated that the annual cost to the NHS in Wales was in the region of £34 million per annum at 1992–93 prices.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on smoking cessation initiatives in each of the last three years; what his estimate is of expenditure in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [17944]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsResponsibility for national health promotion initiatives in Wales, such as smoking cessation initiatives, rests with the Health Promotion Authority for Wales. Expenditure on smoking cessation initiatives is as follows:
1994–95 £
1995–96 £
1996–97 £
1997–98 £
Campaigns 255,825 337,183 214,862 185,620 Pilot projects 154,837 13,213 140,828 — Research 584 55,291 38,426 46,400 European funded work — — 34,542 36,000 Total 411,246 405,687 428,658 268,020 Plans for 1998–99 have yet to be finalised but expenditure is expected to be in the region of £300,000.
The above information relates to initiatives directed solely at smoking. Smoking cessation advice also features strongly in other general health promotion initiatives funded by the Authority.