HC Deb 03 November 1955 vol 545 c1190
17. Mr. Bottomley

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present duties of the Tobacco Adviser and Chairman of the Manufacturers and Distributors Committee.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The Tobacco Adviser advises the Board of Trade generally on matters relating to manufactured and unmanufactured tobacco.

Mr. Bottomley

Is it not possible that his services could be used more directly in connection with the cost of cigarettes, bearing in mind that the Imperial Tobacco Company last year made a profit of nearly £20 million, with a high increase in its dividend, and ought he not to make representations to see that cigarettes are not put up in price, as they have been recently?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Something much more than a tobacco adviser would be required if we were to control tobacco prices in this country.