Written question asked by John Cummings (Labour) on Friday, 20 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 November 2009. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Monday, 30 November 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Tobacco

Question: (3) if he will commission a full scientific review of the effects on health of tobacco products which are (a) smoked and (b) not smoked for the purposes of developing his Department's planned tobacco control strategy; and if he will make a statement;

Answer: The Government will publish a new tobacco control strategy before the end of this year. This strategy will include action to:"stop the inflow of young people being recruited as smokers""assist smokers to quit""protect families and communities"The strategy will include plans to reduce harms to health caused by tobacco use.The Department has not commissioned specific research into the harms of smoked and smokeless tobacco, as the evidence base is already extensive. On smokeless tobacco, we have given particular consideration to the 2008 report of the European Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks titled "Health Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Products".The supply and marketing of certain forms of smokeless tobacco is prohibited by a European directive. While smokeless tobacco is not used extensively across the population, the Department is able to monitor use through surveys that compare smokeless tobacco use in the UK compared to other countries. In addition, the Department is working in partnership with the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services to enhance the enforcement of smokeless tobacco products with respect tobacco legislation and the payment of relevant taxes and duties.

Secondary information