Tobacco: Children

James Brokenshire
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on making the purchase of cigarettes under age a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo
We published a report on the “Consultation on the future of tobacco control” on 9 December last year. A copy has already been placed in the Library. This summarised responses, and noted that some respondents suggested there should be new offences for those underage who try to buy tobacco, or who smoke in public.