§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is introducing to encourage and support smokers who wish to stop smoking. [148743]
§ Yvette CooperAs set out in the White Paper, Smoking Kills, the Governments tobacco control strategy involves a comprehensive health education programme backed up by local cessation services.
The education programme is supported by a national telephone helpline which, besides offering information, advice and support, can direct smokers to their local services.
A national network of National Health Service smoking cessation services provides expert help to smokers wanting to give up, and up to six weeks free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is available to smokers entitled to free prescriptions. The cessation aid Zyban (Buproprion) is already available on NHS prescription and we are considering the outcome of a recent consultation exercise on a proposal to provide all NRT products on this basis.
§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died of smoking-related diseases in the Gateshead and South Tyneside area in 2000. [148744]
§ Yvette CooperIn 2000, at least 442 residents from the Gateshead and South Tyneside health authority area died from smoking related diseases. This figure is based on percentages of lung cancer, ischaemic heart disease and cerebro-vascular disease deaths. The true figure is likely to be higher as other diseases have been excluded and smoking rates in the area are higher than the United Kingdom average.
Source:
Public Health Mortality File, Gateshead and South Tyneside health authority