asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer of 17 February relating to the estimate made by his Department that the annual cost to the National Health Service of diseases attributable to smoking and drinking is about £155 million and between £70 million and £95 million, respectively, why he will not introduce legislation along the lines of the compulsion to wear seat belts to prevent people smoking and drinking.

We believe it would not be sensible to proceed along these lines.