§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated percentage of(a) boys and (b) girls who smoke regularly was in each year since 1997. [122396]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe available data are shown in the table.
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Prevalence of regular cigarette smoking among secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15, by gender—England, 1998 to 2002 Percentage Boys Girls All pupils 1998 9 12 11 1999 8 10 9 2000 9 12 10 2001 8 11 10 2002 9 11 10 Note:
Regular smokers are those who smoke at least one cigarette a week, on average.
Source:
Department of Health Statistical Press Notice: "Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2002: Provisional Results". Available at http://www.doh.qov.uk/public/ spnmar03-smokinq.htm
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has undertaken into the numbers of children and young people who smoke; what plans he has to reduce these numbers; and if he will make a statement. [123054]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe 1998 White Paper, "Smoking Kills", set a target to reduce smoking among 11-15 year olds from 13 per cent. in 1996 to 9 per cent. by 2010, with a fall to 11 per cent. by 2005.
Among 11-15 year olds, smoking prevalence has remained unchanged since 2000 at 10 per cent. and we are on course to meet our target for reducing smoking. Within the adult group—16–19 year olds, data (collected from a different source) show that for young men figures increased in 1998. For young women, there has been a marked improvement in 2000. The figures indicate an overall fall in prevalence in England. Measures the Government is taking to tackle teenage smoking are:
a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products: The cigarettes smoked most by children are also those most heavily advertised;tough enforcement on under-age sales: on 13 September 2000 the Government launched an Enforcement Protocol with local authorities to ensure that the existing legislation on under-age sales is properly enforced;the Government supports proof of age card schemes which protect shopkeepers and children alike;tougher new restrictions on siting of cigarette vending machines;an extensive health education campaign aimed at smokers and non-smokers;fiscal policy: the high price of cigarettes is a particular disincentive for young people.
Prevalence of regular cigarette smoking among secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15, by gender—England, 1996 to 2002 (Percentages) Year 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Boys 11 9 8 9 8 9 Girls 15 12 10 12 11 11 All pupils 13 1 I 9 10 10 10 Notes:
Regular smokers are those who smoke at least one cigarette a week, on average.
Source:
The Department of Health Statistical Press Notice, 'Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2002: Provisional Results'. Available at: http://www.doh.qov.uk/public/ spnmar03-smokinq.htm
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Prevalence of smoking cigarettes among adults, England, 1996–2001 aged 16–19 and by gender (Percentages) 19961 19981 19982 20002 20012 Men 25 30 30 30 24 Women 32 33 33 28 31 All persons 29 31 31 30 28 1 Unweighted 2 Weighted Notes:
1. Up until 2000, data on the prevalence on smoking from the General Household Survey were only available every two years.
2. Data for 1998 onwards were weighted to compensate for under-representation of people in some groups: earlier figures were based on unweighted data, and are not therefore directly comparable.
3. Respondents who answered "yes" to the question "Do you smoke cigarettes at all nowadays?"
Source:
Office for National Statistics: General Household Survey 2001, published as, 'Living in Britain: Results from the 2001 General Household Survey'. Available at: http://www.statlstics.qov.uk/nb2001/index.html