asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what advice he received from his inter-departmental committee on smoking and health concerning the licensing of retail tobacconists once again with a view to controlling the sale of cigarettes in the neighbourhood of schools; if he will now initiate discussions with the Government Departments concerned with a view to the introduction of legislation; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will introduce legislation for the purpose of controlling the siting of cigarette vending machines so that they are not in the neighbourhood of schools and colleges, in accordance with the policy of the British Medical Association; and if he will make a statement.

The Royal College of Physicians' Report recommended that:

"Further consideration should be given to strengthening and extending the regulations that forbid selling cigarettes to children and to the abolition of all cigarette-vending machines in public places".

The recommendations of the Royal College of Physicians were considered in the interdepartmental discussions to which the hon. Member refers and I have nothing to add to my replies to

him on 23rd November and 16th December, 1971.—[Vol. 826, c.