Voluntary Code Of Practice On Tobacco Advertising

EDM number 301 in 1991-92, proposed by Ann Winterton on 28/11/1991.

That this House refutes the claim of the Cancer Research Campaign's recent report on the relationship between advertising and smoking by children; notes that in both New Zealand and Canada powerful economic factors, such as tobacco tax increases and economic recession are the decisive factors in reducing cigarette consumption in recent months; notes further that a decline in cigarette consumption was already underway in both countries several years before legislation banning tobacco advertising was imposed; draws attention to a recent Superior Court judgement in Canada, which overturned the Government's ban on tobacco advertising, concluding that it has not been established that prohibition of advertising has the effect of reducing consumption; points out that in Norway overall manufactured cigarette consumption has increased by nearly 60 per cent. since 1975, when tobacco advertising was banned, whereas in the United Kingdom, where advertising was permitted, consumption has declined by 19.8 per cent. in the last decade; concludes that while consumption levels may change, tobacco advertising does not influence those levels; and so urges the United Kingdom Government to continue its consistent adherence to a Voluntary Code of Practice.

This motion has been signed by a total of 3 MPs.