§ 32. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Health what information he will now publish on the connection between smoking and lung cancer.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. R. H. Turton)I am afraid I am not yet ready to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Northfield (Mr. Chapman), the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) and the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross) on 26th March.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWhy is the Minister so hesitant about following the advice of his own Medical Advisory Committee and the Central Health Service Council, given over a month ago, that the public should be informed of the known facts? Will he give an assurance that this inexplicable delay on the part of the Government is not prompted by financial consideration?
§ Mr. TurtonIt is necessary for me first to see exactly what are the known facts compared with what they were when my predecessor, the present Minister of Labour and National Service, made a statement to the House in February, 1954.
§ Dr. SummerskillDid the right hon. Gentleman listen last Friday to the Radio Doctor who, as a responsible and eminent member of the medical profession, told the British public that the facts presented two years ago were sufficiently conclusive for him to give up cigarettes? In view of that, will the right hon. Gentleman, in the public interest, see that his statements at the Dispatch Box are synchronised with those of doctors which are supported by the medical profession?
§ Mr. TurtonIf what was stated two years ago was sufficiently conclusive, there would be no necessity for me to make further statements. I have to see exactly what developments have taken place since two years ago.