Brown seeks answer to burning question on public health

Ahead of next week’s Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will today debate with the public how to tackle one of the nation’s biggest and most expensive public health challenges - smoking.

While tobacco taxes raise £9 bn for the Chancellor, new research from the National Consumer Council (NCC) reveals smoking costs the economy a massive £14.3 bn.

During a morning organised by the NCC, Gordon Brown will sit down with 60 people from SE England, to listen to their ideas for helping people quit smoking and whether higher taxes play a part.

Involving people in discussions about their own personal experiences, and what would work best to motivate changes in their behaviour, is already proving its worth. In Sunderland, for instance, where many less well-off women continue to smoke during pregnancy, the quit rate has increased tenfold recently, thanks to a programme rooted in local women’s own insights.

Ed Mayo chief executive of the National Consumer Council, says: ‘The best NHS public health interventions have a strong consumer focus – starting from where people are, rather than where health professionals want them to be. Australia stands out as having a strong track record in using consumer-focused social marketing to cut smoking rates. Australian tobacco taxes are channelled into sponsoring sports and cultural events. Why can’t we do that here?

‘We are delighted the Chancellor is drawing on the everyday reality of people’s lives to shape policies for a better, healthier future for everyone. Today’s participants have an important and fascinating morning ahead of them.’

Involving consumers in shaping public policy and services is a key strand in the NCC’s new consumer policy agenda for the 21st Century. Now that consumer society is more mature, with traditional issues of consumer value - safety, price and choice – superseded by wider public values, NCC is exploring new priorities. These include a clear voice for consumers and recognition of their responsibilities on public health and the environment.