Smoking (Hansard, 10 April 2001)

§ 25. Mr. Ernie Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in preventing young people from taking up smoking. [156308]

§ Yvette Cooper
The most recent survey results indicate that smoking prevalence among children aged 11–15 is now at 9 per cent., down from 13 per cent. in 1996. This is very encouraging, but we are determined to ensure that this downward trend continues, for example by banning tobacco advertising, which particularly appeals to young people.

§ Mrs. Anne Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in preventing young people from taking up smoking. [156293]

§ Yvette Cooper
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (Mr. Taylor) on 10 April 2001,Official Report, column 842.

§ 36. Dr. Iddon
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made towards tackling smoking. [156321]

§ Yvette Cooper
We announced on 29 January 2001 a £3 million initiative to help co-ordinate locally all services for pregnant women who wish to give up smoking and on 14 March that we intend to amend the relevant regulations so as to allow doctors to prescribe any available nicotine replacement therapy as part of National Health Service treatment.
The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill published on 14 December 2000 will ensure that tobacco is no longer promoted through advertising, sponsorship or other promotional schemes.
On 13 September 2000 we launched an enforcement protocol with local authorities to strengthen the enforcement of the existing legislation on under-age sales of cigarettes.