To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the main predictors of regular smoking among young people; and what steps he is taking to tackle them.

The Government remain concerned about youth uptake of smoking. Around two-thirds of smokers say they started to regularly smoke before they turned 18.

Protecting children and young people is one of the key areas within the Government's recently published 'Consultation on the Future of Tobacco Control', and includes references to the predictors of regular smoking by young people. Copies of the consultation have already been placed in the Library.