THE NORTH-EAST has a higher percentage of smokers than the national average with Sunderland having the highest smoking levels in the region, according to new analysis released by a tobacco and cigarette company.

According to Philip Morris Ltd (PML), the constituencies of Houghton and Sunderland South, Sunderland Central, and Washington and Sunderland West share an average smoking prevalence of 20.2 per cent, which is almost 6 per cent higher than the average for England 14.4 per cent. It puts the constituency near the bottom of the national rankings across the whole of Britain.

The average smoking prevalence of the 29 constituencies across the region is 15.9 per cent.

t means no constituencies in the region make it into the top 120 of the ranking across Britain. The seats of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland rank 10th and 16th, respectively across the region. The average smoking prevalence of the 26 Labour held constituencies in the region is 16.1 per cent compared with the Conservative Party average of 14.2 per cent.

Mark MacGregor, of PML said: “These results show the huge variations in smoking levels across the different parts of Britain. We hope MPs in the North-East will use the figures to better target help for smokers locally, particularly in seats with the highest smoking prevalence. “If the Government is to meet its ambitious target, one of the keys to getting smoking prevalence down will be ensuring smokers who don’t quit, understand that alternatives, like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, are significantly better than continuing to smoke.”