Cash boost against fags
STOKE-ON-TRENT has won a Government grant of £100,000 to beef up its fight on smoking.
It is one of 25 councils throughout Britain with the highest smoking rates to share the award from Department of Health.
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BAD HABIT: More is being spent to help smokers quit.
The cash will help local authorities improve the health of those who need it most by encouraging smokers to quit and to discourage young people from taking up the habit.
It will be used either to set up local anti-smoking marketing campaigns, to support trading standards in enforcing regulations including age of sale and advertising of tobacco, or to work with local Revenue and Customs officers to combat the illicit tobacco market.
The funding was made available following negotiations by the Local Government Association.
Public health minister Gillian Merron said: "We have made good progress on reducing overall smoking rates. Now we're helping people in areas with the highest rates of smoking, particularly among young people and those from the poorest communities."
2 Comments
by John, Newcastle
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 8:22PM
“If only half as much in money and resources were devoted to fighting crime the streets would be safe to walk at night.”
by Laura, stoke
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 3:33PM
“money being wasted yet again. if people want to smoke let them. use the money on illnesses people havnt given themselves such as cancer or alzhiemers. if the government really wanted smoking to be tackled stop producing ciggarettes... doesnt take a genius to work that out!”