§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of a 5 per cent. real terms rise in tobacco duty on(a) the number of smokers in the United Kingdom and (b) the level of cigarette sales per head in the United Kingdom. [99198]
§ Mr. TimmsI have made no such assessment. Since higher tobacco prices are likely to lead to lower consumption, there is a strong public health case for year-on-year real term increases in the price of cigarettes. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made it clear in his Pre-Budget Report that additional revenue raised from such an increase would go to further investment in the National Health Service.