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Mr. Ken Maginnis (Fermanagh and South Tyrone): Although my party welcomes any measure to reduce smoking, particularly among young children, I fear that the proposals will place a great responsibility on organisations such as the Tobacco Alliance--a group of responsible small shopkeepers who sell cigarettes within the law, but are being taxed at 5 per cent. per year, to the advantage of the bootleggers whom the Secretary of State deprecates. What can the Secretary of State do about the £3 billion of trade involved? Has he been to the coast of France and Belgium to see the extent of the trade? There is no control over it. I am told that 80 per cent. of the trade is carried out north of the Watford Gap, so it is not peculiar to coastal regions. Unless the Secretary of State tackles that, he might as well forget about his proposals, which, I repeat, we welcome.
Mr. Dobson: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his welcome for our proposals. We take smuggling seriously. I understand that the loss of revenue is about £1 billion--which may interest those who are bothered about revenue lost to the Government. The Conservatives did nothing about that when they were in office. We are putting more
effort into attempting to counter smuggling, although I have not been to the coast of France and Belgium to check the situation. The tobacco companies must bear some of the responsibility, because their products are being smuggled. If they wanted to trace them to where they came from with markings on the packets, they could do so.
Mr. Derek Foster (Bishop Auckland): I should declare an interest, although it is not a registerable one. There is a Rothmans factory in Spennymoor in my constituency employing 550 people. It is a good company that plays a full part in the life of the community. It is highly regarded by its employees and has a good relationship with the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union. My other interest in the issue is that my father died at the age of51 from emphysema, probably caused by smoking Woodbines, which were popular among the working class of his generation.
My right hon. Friend is not making a pitch for the votes of the 15 million smokers, who give £11 billion to the tax man--considerably more than they cost the health service. Nevertheless, I wholly welcome the report. Will he work with me and the Tobacco Workers Alliance to ensure that, if the jobs of my 550 constituents in an area of high unemployment disappear through the activities of my party, we shall ensure that there are other jobs for them to go to?
Mr. Dobson:
I know about the death of my right hon. Friend's father. I can confirm that representatives of the tobacco workers have been consulted throughout the process, and will continue to be consulted.
It is worth noting that, in the previous 18 years, the number of people employed in the tobacco industry fell from 37,000 to 9,000, largely as a result of increased automation of the processes. That has been the principal cause of job losses, which have proceeded apace. As the tobacco company bosses are concentrating so hard on brand diversification, perhaps they might pay a little attention to diversifying the job opportunities of their employees. I do not think that we will upset most smokers by trying to help them give up smoking, as all the surveys show that seven out of 10 smokers would like to give up, but unfortunately they are addicted.
Dr. Peter Brand (Isle of Wight):
First, I welcome the emphasis placed on stopping children and young people starting to smoke in the first place.
Secondly, I am disappointed by the help that is being offered to the seven out of 10 who want to stop smoking, and who probably express that wish 10 or 20 times a day. People such as myself--I am addicted to my pipe--require consistent help to give up the pernicious habit. There is a great deal of evidence that people need support for at least six to 12 weeks. The Government are missing an opportunity by not offering people a supply of Nicorette as a condition of attendance at a clinic, as that would encourage people to turn up and to be successful in their attempts to stop smoking. A week's supply is neither here nor there and will not help anyone to make a real effort. Will the Secretary of State look at the results of the pilot project, and extend it when it is seen to be cost-effective?
Mr. Dobson:
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his welcome. Although he is not a lawyer, he is probably
As part of their treatment, some people will be offered free patches for a week or perhaps longer. I understand that the patches cost £15 a week over the counter. Most smokers spend more than that on smoking, so if they are given some support, get to know how it feels to use the patches and benefit from them, and provided that clinical support continues, we hope that they will think it a bargain to spend a bit less on patches than they were spending on the cigarettes that were harming them.
Dr. Howard Stoate (Dartford):
May I add my congratulations and those of the vast majority of my general practitioner colleagues to my right hon. Friend? I have been watching the clock, and my calculations are that between 10 and 12 people have died in Britain from smoking since the beginning of his statement. Therefore, about 400 people a day need to be recruited to start smoking just to make up those numbers. How can we change the culture among young people from the idea that smoking is somehow glamorous, so that they consider it dangerous? Rather than cracking down on smoking, we need to show people the damage that it causes and that it is in their best interests if they never take it up in the first place.
Mr. Dobson:
I thank my hon. and medical Friend for his welcome. We are trying to learn from campaigns in other parts of the world in an effort to reduce the number of children who are taking up smoking. However, it is a cultural matter, so we cannot simply take something off the peg in Massachusetts or California and assume that it will work in Scunthorpe or Surrey. We need to address what motivates and influences young people in our country. We have a substantial sum of money to do that, and we are prepared to contemplate almost any form of advertising and advocacy provided that we are convinced that it will work.
Mr. Barron:
On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett):
With permission, I should like to make a statement about the business for next week.
Monday 14 December--Second Reading of the Greater London Authority Bill.
Tuesday 15 December--Until 7 o'clock, conclusion of Second Reading of the Greater London Authority Bill.
Debate on the common fisheries policy on a Government motion.
Proceedings on the Consolidated Fund Bill.
Wednesday 16 December--Until 2 o'clock, there will be debates on the motion for the Adjournment of the House, which will include the usual three-hour pre-recess debate.
Motion to approve the Modernisation Committee's report on the parliamentary calendar and sessional orders.
Thursday 17 December--Second Reading of the Scottish Enterprise Bill.
The provisional business for the first week back after the Christmas recess will be as follows:
Monday 11 January--Second reading of the Rating (Valuation) Bill.
Tuesday 12 January--Second Reading of the Local Government Bill.
Wednesday 13 January--Until 2 o'clock, there will be debates on the motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Opposition day [2nd Allotted Day].
There will be a debate on a motion in the name of the Liberal Democrats, the subject to be announced.
Thursday 14 January--Motion to take note of the outstanding reports of the Public Accounts Committee to which the Government have replied. Details will be given in the Official Report.
Friday 15 January--The House will not be sitting.
[Thursday 14 January:
Motion to take note of the outstanding reports of the Public Accounts Committee to which the Government have replied. Details will be given in the Official Report. Relevant Reports:
4.15 pm
NHS Supplies in England HC349 11 December 1997 Cm 3880
10 Dec 1998 : Column 491
Health and Safety in NHS Acute Hospital Trusts in England HC350 13 December 1997 Cm 3880
South and West Regional Health Authority: the disposal of SWIFT HC358 18 December 1997 Cm 3880
MOD: Management of Utilities HC359 19 December 1997 Cm 3880
Coronary Heart Disease in Northern Ireland HC381 14 January 1998 Cm 3893
Department of the Environment (NI) Control of Belfast Action Teams' Expenditure HC382 15 January 1998 Cm 3893
Resignation of the Chief Executive of English Heritage HC392 18th January 1998 Cm 3894
Governance and Management of Overseas Courses at the Swansea Institute of Higher Education HC393 18 January 1998 Cm 3894
Property Services in English Occupied Royal Palaces: Responsibilities for Royal Household Remuneration and the Provision of Accommodation HC94 17 December 1997 Cm 3936
Her Majesty's Stationery Office: Trade with Uzbekistan and 1995 Trading Fund Accounts HC405 21 January 1998 Cm 3894
MAFF: Tackling Common Agricultural Policy Irregularities HC406 22 January 1998 Cm 3894
ODA: Irregularities in the Encashment of Pension Payments in Amman, Jordan HC407 23 January 1998 Cm 3894.
Criminal Legal Aid Means Testing in the Magistrates' Courts HC416 6 February 1998 Cm 3936
HM Customs and Excise: The Seizure of Drug Traffickers' Assets HC417 29 January 1998 Cm 3936
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority: Sale of Facilities Services Division HC418 30 January 1998 Cm 3936
HM Customs & Excise: Appropriation Account Matters l995-96 HC424 4 February 1998 Cm 3936
Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust: Progress in Regenerating Housing Estates HC425 18 February 1998 Cm 3936
The Department of Trade and Industry Redundancy Payment Service: The Management of Recovery of Debt HC426 ll February l998 Cm 3936
Aid to Indonesia HC436 12 February 1998 Cm 3936
Motability HC444 15 February 1998 Cm 3936
Child Support Agency: Client Funds Account 1996-97 HC313 11 March 1998 Cm 3955
Excess Vote 1996-97: (Northern Ireland) Department of Education (Vote 2) Teachers' Superannuation HC592 12 March 1998
Excess Votes 1996-97: Ministry of Defence (Class 1: Votes 1, 2 and 3) HC593 12 March 1998
Department for Education and Employment: Remploy Limited HC339 18 March 1998 Cm 3955
Highlands & Islands Enterprise: Value for Money Review of Performance Measurement HC325 25 March 1998 Cm 3955
Vacant Office Property 395 1 April 1998 Cm 3973
Measures to Combat Housing Benefit Fraud HC366 26 March 1998 Cm 3955
Charity Commission: Regulation and Support of Charities HC408 2 April 1998 Cm 3973
HM Customs and Excise: Checking Large-Traders' VAT Liability HC445 5 April 1998 Cm 3973
The Prison Service: Prison Catering HC419 8 April 1998 Cm 3973
Inland Revenue: Employer Compliance Reviews HC357 3 May 1998 Cm 4004
NHS Scotland: Cataract Surgery in Scotland HC546 7 May 1998 Cm 4004
Crown Prosecution Service HC526 10 May 1998 Cm 4004
FCO: Fraud at Amman Embassy HC553 13 May 1998 Cm 4004
The Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors HC729 17 May 1998 Cm 4004
OFWAT: Regulation of Water Industry HC483 20 May 1998 Cm 4004
FCO: Contingent Liabilities in the Dependent Territories HC435 21 May 1998 Cm 4004
Northern Ireland: The Industrial Research and Technology Unit HC429 24 May 1998 Cm 4015
Protecting Environmentally Sensitive Areas HC513 3 June 1998 Cm 4021
The Management of Building Projects at English Higher Education Institutions HC558 4 June 1998 Cm 4021
10 Dec 1998 : Column 492
The Construction of the Southampton Oceanography Centre HC608 17 June 1998 Cm 4055
The Skye Bridge HC348 21 June 1998 Cm 4041
The Privatisation of Belfast International Airport HC427 24 June 1998 Cm 4060
Northern Ireland Social Security Agency: The Administration of Disability Living Allowance HC527 25 June 1998 Cm 4060
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme HC613 27 June 1998 Cm 4055
The Contract to Develop and Update the Replacement National Insurance Recording System HC472 1 July 1998 Cm 4041
The Private Finance Initiative: The First Four Design, Build, Finance and Operate Roads Contracts HC580 2 July 1998 Cm 4041
MOD: Sale of the Married Quarters Estate HC518 8 July 1998 Cm 4055
The Sale of the Stationery Office HC599 9 July 1998 Cm 4055
The Management of Sickness Absence in the Metropolitan Police Service HC594 15 July 1998 Cm 4055
Ministry of Defence Appropriation Accounts 1996-97 HC671 16 July 1998 Cm 1055
Intervention Board Executive Agency: Qualification of Appropriation Account 1996-97 18 July 1998 Cm 4055
Appropriation Account 1996-97 Class V, Vote 7: Passenger Rail Services HC625 22 July 1998 Cm 4055
HM Customs and Excise: Matters on the 1996-97 Accounts HC717 23 July 1998 Cm 4055
Inland Revenue: The Monitoring and Control of Tax Exemptions for Charities HC728 24 July 1998 Cm 4055
Appropriation Accounts 1996-97 Class IX: Department for Education and Employment (Overpayments to Training and Enterprise Councils) HC704 25 July 1998 Cm 4055
The PFI Contracts for Bridgend and Fazakerley Prisons HC499 29 July 1998 Cm 4041
Appropriation Accounts 1996-97 Class Xll, Vote 1: (Administered Social Security Benefits and Other Payments) HC570 30 July 1998 Cm 4069
HM Coastguard: HM Coastguard: Civil Maritime Search and Rescue HC741 31 July 1998 Cm 4069
The Sale of AEA Technology HC749 5 August 1998 Cm 4069
Getting Value for Money in Privatisations HC992 3 September 1998 Cm 4075
The Purchase of the Read Codes and the Management of the NHS Centre for Coding and Classification HC657 6 August 1998 Cm 4069
The Management of Growth in the English Further Education Sector HC 665 7 August 1998 Cm 4069
Countering Anti-Competitive Behaviour in the Telecommunications Industry HC842 12 August 1998 Cm 4069
Privatisation of the Rolling Stock Leasing Companies HC782 9 August 1998 Cm 4069
Managing the Millennium Threat HC816 19 August 1998 Cm 4069
HM Treasury: Resource Accounting and Resource-Based Supply HC731 13 August 1998 Cm 4069]
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