§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in encouraging smoking cessation; and how much was allocated to each health trust for such services in the last year for which figures are available. [167858]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonWe are making good progress in helping smokers to stop smoking Latest figures show that, between April and September 2003, around 129,800 people set a quit date through the national health service stop smoking services, and over 68,600, or 53 per cent., had remained quit at four week follow up.
1624WHealth service circular 2002–012, issued on 18 December 2002, set out the financial allocation to NHS stop smoking services in primary care trusts for 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06. A copy of the circular has been placed in the Library.