§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce his decision in respect of funding for smoking cessation for(a) 2002–03 and (b) subsequent years in respect of the North Staffordshire health authority; and if he will make a statement. [15620]
§ Ms Blears(holding answer 16 November 2001]: Decisions on central funding for 2002–03 have not yet been finalised. Future decisions will form part of the Department's spending review 2002.
The NHS plan sets out a major expansion in services to help reduce smoking. The national health service smoking cessation services have proved to be effective, helping around 61,500 smokers to quit at the four-week stage in 2000–01.