DNH Names Line-Up As Tobacco Ad Ban Looms

Chris Smith, named as the new National Heritage Secretary at the weekend, has announced the allocation of Ministerial responsibilities at the Department.

Mr Smith will be in charge of overall direction and major policy issues; public expenditure, control and management of the National Lottery; broadcasting and media policy; the Millennium; organisation of the Department; Royal matters; public appointments. He also becomes Chairman of the Millennium Commission.

Tom Clarke will become Minister of State for Film and Tourism; Mark Fisher becomes Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Arts; and Tony Banks becomes Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport.

As well as the possibility of privatising Channel 4, the Labour Party is also rumoured to be considering a ban on tobacco advertising. According to a report in today’s Daily Telegraph the new Health Minister Tessa Jowl told the World Health Assembly in Geneva about the dangers of smoking and a statement on her behalf said: “Over the coming weeks, the Government will be looking at ways of introducing a ban on tobacco advertising.”

DNH: 0171 211 6200