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Written question asked by Andrew Stephenson (Conservative) on Thursday, 29 November 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 December 2012. It was answered by Elizabeth Truss (Conservative) on Monday, 10 December 2012 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Pupils: Smoking

Question

(2) whether his Department provides funding for anti-smoking initiatives in schools;

[131495]

Andrew Stephenson:

Answer

How schools choose to address issues regarding smoking is a local decision and the Department for Education does not provide specific funding for anti-smoking initiatives. Pupils are taught about the effects of tobacco on health as part of the national curriculum for science. In addition, teachers can cover the facts about, and consequences of, smoking in non-statutory personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.

The 2011 “Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England” survey found that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds had smoked at least once, the lowest proportion since the survey began in 1982. In 2011, 5% of pupils smoked at least one cigarette a week, half the level of 2001.

Regional data for the incidence of smoking for pupils in Lancashire is not available. However, data for the North West region is available from the above survey programme. 5% of pupils in the North West smoked at least one cigarette a week in 2011. The Department does not collect statistics on the incidence of smoking on school premises.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
131495; 555 cc99-100W
Session
2012-13
Subjects
Pupils Smoking
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk