To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of under-age smokers purchasing smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products. (84087)

HM Revenue and Customs current estimate of the share of illicit tobacco is published in “Measuring Indirect Tax Losses” which is available on their website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2005/mitl 2005.pdf

However HM Revenue and Customs have made no estimate of the number or proportion of smokers who are under age and purchase smuggled and counterfeit tobacco.