Statistics on smoking, drinking and health are currently produced from the General Lifestyle Survey (GLF) – a cross-government, national survey that has been carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) since 1971. The NHS Information Centre (NHS IC) has contributed around £300,000 a year to the survey in recognition of the importance of the data to health policy, but has proposed to cease its contribution with immediate effect, pending approval of its business plan. Without this contribution, ONS will not be able to cover the costs, resulting in the immediate discontinuation of long-established National Statistics on smoking, drinking, health conditions and the use of health services.