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The Smoke Screen Trivia Quiz

This quiz refers to the "Yes, Prime Minister" episode "The Smoke Screen", in which Jim uses the threat of abolishing smoking to outmanoeuvre the Treasury.

A multiple-choice quiz by timoggy. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
timoggy

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
404,384

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
76

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How big was the tax cut that the Prime Minister is seeking? Hint

�4 billion

�7 billion

�500 million

�1.5 billion

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was the name of the "gambit" that Sir Frank employed in order to persuade the Chancellor to oppose the proposed tax cut?

Answer: (Two Words - Medical Device)

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Question 3 of 10

3. To what score had the England Cricket team collapsed that caused Sir Humphrey to rush off from his meeting with Sir Frank? Hint

70 for 3

46 for 4

110 for 8

88 for 5

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these was not mentioned as an event that the British Tobacco Group is being asked to support? Hint

Glyndebourne

Brands Hatch

Wimbledon

Covent Garden

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Question 5 of 10

5. According to Dr. Peter Thorn, how many people die prematurely per day as a result of smoking? Hint

250

350

300

400

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Question 6 of 10

6. According to Sir Humphrey, how many admirals were there currently in the British Navy? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the name of the Minister for Sport? Hint

Leslie Potts

Basil Corbett

Stanley Dudley

Professor Marriott

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Question 8 of 10

8. Where was the Minister for Sport's constituency? Hint

Bristol

Nottingham

Basildon

Glasgow

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Question 9 of 10

9. Three senior Civil Servants met to discuss how best to oppose the anti-smoking legislation. Which of these was not present? Hint

Sir Richard Wharton

Sir Ian Whitworth

Sir Frank Gordon

Sir Humphrey Appleby

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these was not mentioned as something to which the "freedom of choice" argument for keeping smoking legal might apply? Hint

Arsenic

Heroin

Plutonium

Gelignite

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How big was the tax cut that the Prime Minister is seeking?

Answer: �1.5 billion

He guessed, correctly, that the Treasury would be more willing to authorise a �1.5 billion tax cut than lose out on �4 billion in tobacco tax revenue.

2. What was the name of the "gambit" that Sir Frank employed in order to persuade the Chancellor to oppose the proposed tax cut?

Answer: Kidney Machine

"I used the one about our needing the money for hospitals, schools and old people. - The Kidney Machine gambit."

3. To what score had the England Cricket team collapsed that caused Sir Humphrey to rush off from his meeting with Sir Frank?

Answer: 70 for 3

Although, according to the scoreboard, they had recovered to 282 for 5 by the time Sir Humphrey arrived.

4. Which of these was not mentioned as an event that the British Tobacco Group is being asked to support?

Answer: Glyndebourne

"He (the Minister for Sport) wants to twist my arm on behalf of Wimbledon or Brands Hatch or something or other. Covent Garden? We'll see what we can do."

5. According to Dr. Peter Thorn, how many people die prematurely per day as a result of smoking?

Answer: 300

"We must be realists. You and I weren't born yesterday."
"No, and we didn't die yesterday; but 300 people did, prematurely, as a result of smoking; 100,000 deaths per year."

6. According to Sir Humphrey, how many admirals were there currently in the British Navy?

Answer: 60

Despite there being only four capital ships!

7. What was the name of the Minister for Sport?

Answer: Leslie Potts

Professor Marriott was an academic with ideas on how to reform local government and the others have been, at various times, Ministers for Employment.

8. Where was the Minister for Sport's constituency?

Answer: Nottingham

All of these are mentioned as places where there were marginal constituencies with lots of tobacco jobs, but the Minister's seat was in Nottingham.

9. Three senior Civil Servants met to discuss how best to oppose the anti-smoking legislation. Which of these was not present?

Answer: Sir Richard Wharton

Sir Richard was Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Office who were not immediately affected by this legislation; unlike the Treasury, the DHSS and the Cabinet Office.

10. Which of these was not mentioned as something to which the "freedom of choice" argument for keeping smoking legal might apply?

Answer: Plutonium

"The only problem is that that is also the argument for legalising Marijuana, Cocaine, Herion, Arsenic and Gelignite!"

Source: Author timoggy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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