§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to tackle the current increase in smoking amongst young women. [42962]
§ Ms JowellIn 1998/99, we are funding a Health Education Authority run adult smoking education campaign costing £5.5 million, which identifies five key target groups—two of these groups are adults in the 16–24 age group and women and pregnant women.
We also fund a teenage smoking campaign costing £1 million which especially focuses on teenage girls (ages 11–15). I recently launched the latest phase of the campaign, the "Respect" roadshow, which aims to reach out to teenagers in settings that are attractive to them and involve them in lively, absorbing presentations which illustrate that life without cigarettes is not only possible but desirable.
We are currently considering possible ways in which to reduce tobacco consumption and our conclusions will form part of the Tobacco Control White Paper, which will be published later this year.