(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health the maximum amounts which companies (details supplied) were permitted to spend on the advertising of tobacco products and on sponsorship in 1980; and the amounts permitted in 1981.

The maximum amounts which tobacco companies were permitted to spend in 1980 under the Tobacco Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship and Sales Promotion) Regulations, 1979 was £5,421,000 on advertising and £1,138,500 on sponsorship. The amounts permitted in 1981 are £6,407,600 for advertising and £1,345,800 for sponsorship.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister not agree that the figure for advertising appears to have increased very substantially from £5 million to nearly £6.5 million?

The increase is in line with the consumer price index, the yardstick which has been applied in both cases.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I realised the consumer price index had jumped considerably, but I did not realise the situation was so bad.

It is over 20 per cent.

It is approximately in line——

A Fianna Fáil approximation.