HC Deb 09 February 1999 vol 325 c165W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to dissuade the publishers of teenage magazines from promoting slimming products to young teenagers by way of articles or competitions. [68850]

Janet Anderson

I have been asked to reply.

Magazines are wholly independent of Government and subject only to the general law of the land and to the voluntary Code of Practice of the newspaper and periodical industry. My hon. Friend may wish to bring his concerns to the attention of the Periodical Publishers' Association, Imperial House, 15–19 Kingsway, London WC2B 6UN.