asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase to 18 years the age below which it is an offence to sell cigarettes to young persons.

I will consider this proposal.

Is it not an anomaly that a young person under 18 may not buy or consume a glass of beer in a public house yet, far more seriously, may undermine his health by smoking his head off?

Whether or not it is an anomaly, there is one major difference and that is the difficulty of enforcement as between the two regulations.

Would the hon. Gentleman bear in mind also that cigarette-vending machines make it possible for young people of any age to acquire cigarettes, and that therefore this proposed legislation would not alter that situation?

I fully appreciate the hon. Lady's point. It confirms the difficulty of enforcing realistically any proposals of this kind, but we are looking at the matter.