§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the budget for smoking cessation services from April 2002. [17456]
§ Jacqui SmithDecisions on the level of funding for smoking cessation services in 2002–03 form part of the work on health authority allocations. An announcement on health authority allocations for 2002–03 will be made shortly.
The NHS Plan sets out the provision of a comprehensive smoking cessation service. The success of this programme will mean that by 2010, at least 1.5 million smokers will have given up smoking.
§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to support(a) smoking cessation campaigns and (b) campaigns to divert smokers into less dangerous ways of ingesting nicotine. [16891]
§ Jacqui SmithWe will continue to use publicity campaigns designed to persuade smokers to give up. This publicity forms part of a comprehensive strategy including national telephone helplines and local cessation support which can include the provision of nicotine replacement therapy where appropriate. Nicotine is an addictive substance and we have no plans to encourage its use other than in the controlled circumstances of smoking cessation.