TAXATION AND TOBACCO

That this House recognises taxation to be an effective tool in reducing smoking rates; regrets that the increases in cigarette tax since 2001 have only been in line with inflation and that the reduction in VAT on nicotine replacement treatments announced in the Budget expires in March 2008; is alarmed by the journal Addiction's conclusion that the number of UK smokers is only declining by 0.4 per cent. per year; notes the UK smoking population of 12 million; and calls upon the Government to devise the appropriate mixture of tax increases on tobacco products and concessions on the cost of anti-smoking aids in order to increase the number of people giving up smoking for life.