§ 31. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health what action he is taking to implement the recommendation of the Central Health Services Council regarding the dangers of smoking.
§ Mr. VosperI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Hastings) on 25th February.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopDoes the Minister not consider it his responsibility to carry out the recommendation that was made to him by the Central Health Services Council and do rather more than what has been quite usefully done by the Ministry of Education in a recent publication from that Department? Does he not feel that it is his duty to issue a certain amount of advice to the public?
§ Mr. VosperSo far, it has been the policy of my predecessor and myself to bring to the notice of the public all available information; but my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, in an Adjournment debate, told the House that the Report of the Medical Research Council would be available shortly and that I would then reconsider my policy in the light of that Report.
§ Mr. LiptonCan the Minister give an assurance that after turning down all the advice which he has had on the subject so far from the Central Health Services Council and the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, he will carry out the recommendations of the Medical Research Council? He has done nothing up to now. Is he afraid of his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has said that he does not want too many people to give up cigarette smoking?
§ Mr. VosperI have just said that the Medical Research Council is about to submit a new Report, which I want to study.