9. What recent discussions he has had with other Government Departments on the public health effects of smuggled tobacco. Tackling the problem of tobacco smuggling is a major priority for the Government. The illicit trade in cheap tobacco is helping to sustain high levels of smoking, particularly in deprived communities and among young people. My officials are working in co-operation with a range of organisations and stakeholders locally and nationally to tackle the problem. (184151)

My local authority health scrutiny commission met last week to discuss that issue. It is a problem in my area because much of the local smuggled tobacco is counterfeit, which means that it is full of dangerous chemicals, and much of it is targeted at young people. As a consequence, health conditions are worsening because of those poor-quality cigarettes and young children are getting health problems at an earlier age. Smoking cessation programmes have been a success story, so can my right hon. Friend give any encouragement to my area about the possibility of those programmes being extended, in particular to children—

Order.

My hon. Friend raises an important point about access to smuggled tobacco, particularly in areas of high deprivation where smoking levels among adults and young people remain high compared with the rest of the country. It is necessary to establish co-operation between the local authority, trading standards, the local health providers and local community groups—I am glad to hear that that has started in his local area—to get across a clearer message about the damage that smoking tobacco, whether contraband or not, does to health.