Written question asked by Chris Ruane (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 April 2012. It was answered by Anne Milton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 25 April 2012 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Smoking

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess trends in the number of (a) lifetime smokers, (b) lifetime non-smokers and (c) ex-smokers after 30 years of smoking who live until the age of (i) 50, (ii) 55, (iii) 60, (iv) 65, (v) 70, (vi) 75, (vii) 80, (viii) 85, (ix) 90, (x) 95 and (xi) 100.

Answer: While the information requested is not available centrally, there is published evidence on the effects of smoking on mortality.In 2011, the Government published 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A tobacco control plan for England'. The plan cites evidence that suggests that by successfully quitting smoking, people can avoid smoking-related diseases and live longer, whatever their age.A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2004 found that about half of continuing smokers die prematurely from their habit, that a quarter of smoking-related deaths occur in the 35 to 69-year-old age range and that life expectancy for smokers is reduced, on average, by about 10 years (Doll, R., Peto, R., Boreham, J. and Sutherland, I. (2004) 'Mortality in relation to smoking: 50 years' observations on male British doctors' in British Medical Journal, 328: 1519-1527).Further information on the health risks of smoking tobacco and the benefits of quitting are summarised by the Royal College of Physicians of London in chapter 6 of their publication 'Harm Reduction in Nicotine Addiction: Helping people who can't quit' This publication is available on the web at:"http://bookshop.rcplondon.ac.uk/contents/pub234-aafdfc2b-5c23-4ee3-8f1d-ea18f017edce.pdf"'Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A tobacco control plan for England' has already been placed in the Library.

Secondary information