My right hon. Friend will recall that Labour Members often said that the Conservative party was addicted to the tobacco industry.

My right hon. Friend will recall that Labour Members often said that the Conservative party was addicted to the tobacco industry.

The hon. Gentleman makes an excellent point.

The hon. Gentleman makes an excellent point.

My hon. Friend makes an important point, which stresses the need—perhaps this goes back to what the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) said—for us to examine the evidence and put aside some of the vested interests. I will argue strongly that if we can take steps...

My hon. Friend makes an important point, which stresses the need—perhaps this goes back to what the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) said—for us to examine the evidence and put aside some of the vested interests. I will argue strongly that if we can take steps...

That is a very good point. If there were a minimum age for admission to an establishment, that could be sufficient to prevent the under-age purchase of tobacco in those places. We all know, however, that no one is asked their age before they use a cigarette vending machine. There...

That is a very good point. If there were a minimum age for admission to an establishment, that could be sufficient to prevent the under-age purchase of tobacco in those places. We all know, however, that no one is asked their age before they use a cigarette vending machine. There...

Before the right hon. Gentleman interrupts, I should point out that he went on to differentiate operational independence from a constitution and ended up saying that a constitution would be a good thing but that although he wanted operational independence it did not seem to be such a good thing.

Before the right hon. Gentleman interrupts, I should point out that he went on to differentiate operational independence from a constitution and ended up saying that a constitution would be a good thing but that although he wanted operational independence it did not seem to be such a good thing.

I found myself getting very frustrated on the many occasions when, while doing my dream job down the road, I heard the hon. Gentleman claim credit for the NHS constitution. If he looks at the record, he will see that I proposed it a long time before he first spoke...

I found myself getting very frustrated on the many occasions when, while doing my dream job down the road, I heard the hon. Gentleman claim credit for the NHS constitution. If he looks at the record, he will see that I proposed it a long time before he first spoke...

Let me agree this with the new Secretary of State: we will not have a debate about who proposed a constitution; we will just agree that there should be one, but let us agree that it ought to be a real constitution. The new Secretary of State embraces the thought...

Let me agree this with the new Secretary of State: we will not have a debate about who proposed a constitution; we will just agree that there should be one, but let us agree that it ought to be a real constitution. The new Secretary of State embraces the thought...

Does my hon. Friend agree that if hon. Members read the constitution to see whether their constituents will have any more rights under it—for example, more rights to high-quality service or faster or better treatment—they will see that it is all such weasel words that there is no enhancement of...

Does my hon. Friend agree that if hon. Members read the constitution to see whether their constituents will have any more rights under it—for example, more rights to high-quality service or faster or better treatment—they will see that it is all such weasel words that there is no enhancement of...

Yes, my right hon. Friend is quite right about that. Let us take one example: where in the constitution, if rights to treatment are so important, is the right of access to NHS dentistry? It does not exist. The Secretary of State says that there is a right of access...

Yes, my right hon. Friend is quite right about that. Let us take one example: where in the constitution, if rights to treatment are so important, is the right of access to NHS dentistry? It does not exist. The Secretary of State says that there is a right of access...

Has my hon. Friend noticed that there is now only one Labour Back Bencher in the Chamber for this important Bill on the Government's flagship subject? Does he think that they are unaware that their Prime Minister would like them to be here supporting the new Secretary of State?

Has my hon. Friend noticed that there is now only one Labour Back Bencher in the Chamber for this important Bill on the Government's flagship subject? Does he think that they are unaware that their Prime Minister would like them to be here supporting the new Secretary of State?

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend. I think Labour Members are more concerned with the health of their party than they are with the health of the population. That is a matter of regret. Let us recall that the Bill was meant to be a flagship piece of...

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend. I think Labour Members are more concerned with the health of their party than they are with the health of the population. That is a matter of regret. Let us recall that the Bill was meant to be a flagship piece of...

Yes, I must. The Secretary of State said that he sees the promotion of health and the prevention of disease as his top priority. The Opposition have been making suggestions to the Government for a long time, and they have accepted many of our proposals. May I make a proposal...

Yes, I must. The Secretary of State said that he sees the promotion of health and the prevention of disease as his top priority. The Opposition have been making suggestions to the Government for a long time, and they have accepted many of our proposals. May I make a proposal...

Indeed; we can see solidarity in the approach. The Health Secretary may already have determined the departmental responsibilities of his team, but may I make one suggestion in passing?

Indeed; we can see solidarity in the approach. The Health Secretary may already have determined the departmental responsibilities of his team, but may I make one suggestion in passing?

Must you?

Must you?

Once again, I welcome the Secretary of State to his new responsibilities. When he went to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, he said that it was his dream job. I am sorry that we may have the necessity of turning his short tenure at the Department of Health...

Once again, I welcome the Secretary of State to his new responsibilities. When he went to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, he said that it was his dream job. I am sorry that we may have the necessity of turning his short tenure at the Department of Health...

Solidarity.

Solidarity.

Will the Secretary of State give us his forecast of how many people might not become smokers if the point-of-sale measure goes through? What other measures is his Department considering in order to have even more success in reducing smoking?

Will the Secretary of State give us his forecast of how many people might not become smokers if the point-of-sale measure goes through? What other measures is his Department considering in order to have even more success in reducing smoking?

The Department is considering a broader review of tobacco control policy later this year. We will be able to provide the right hon. Gentleman with a fuller answer then. I agree with the shadow Secretary of State that vending machines are an important part of the debate—we need to have...

The Department is considering a broader review of tobacco control policy later this year. We will be able to provide the right hon. Gentleman with a fuller answer then. I agree with the shadow Secretary of State that vending machines are an important part of the debate—we need to have...

Will the Secretary of State confirm that the reduction in the prevalence of smoking was greater in the 1980s, under the Conservative Government, than it has been at any other time in the last 50 years, because of the impact of the increase in the price of cigarettes? The increase...

Will the Secretary of State confirm that the reduction in the prevalence of smoking was greater in the 1980s, under the Conservative Government, than it has been at any other time in the last 50 years, because of the impact of the increase in the price of cigarettes? The increase...

On the hon. Gentleman's first point, I do not wish to make a party political point—[Interruption.] I normally do, but not on this occasion. I remember the time of "The Health of the Nation" in the early 1990s, and progress was made in reducing smoking, but there was a real...

On the hon. Gentleman's first point, I do not wish to make a party political point—[Interruption.] I normally do, but not on this occasion. I remember the time of "The Health of the Nation" in the early 1990s, and progress was made in reducing smoking, but there was a real...