Written question asked by Laurence Robertson (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 November 2005. It was answered by Shaun Woodward (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 November 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Smoking

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of smoking-related diseases in Northern Ireland.

Answer: This information is not available. However, for the purposes of the draft Regulatory Impact Assessment, which was prepared to inform the policy on controlling smoking in enclosed public places and work places, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has estimated that, in 2003–04, the Northern Ireland hospital costs of treating circulatory and respiratory diseases of which active smoking could be a contributory factor was £74 million.

Secondary information