§ 11. Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Health whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee to consider what immediate and practical steps can be taken to reduce cigarette smoking.
§ Mr. VosperNo, Sir. I do not consider that a Select Committee would be an appropriate body for this purpose.
§ Mr. LiptonNow that a definite connection has been established between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, can the hundreds of millions of pounds made by the Government out of cigarette smoking be regarded as moral earnings? Are not the Government under a solemn 653 obligation to warn the public of the risk and to take much more positive action than they have shown signs of doing, even if it means upsetting the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the tobacco magnates?
§ Mr. VosperThe hon. Member gave notice that he was going to raise this matter on the Adjournment, but he has not yet done so. If he did, it would give an opportunity for dealing with some of the rather unfair allegations he has made.
§ Mr. HastingsShort of appointing a Royal Commission, does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that the evidence is sufficiently strong for something definite to be done by his Department? Ought not young people and children in the schools at any rate to be warned of the dangers of cigarette smoking?
§ Mr. VosperI do intend to look further into this matter and to take the advice of those concerned. I do not believe at the moment that a Select Committee would be the right vehicle. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Education has, of course, recently issued further advice to the schools.