§ 41. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the Report of the Medical Research Council on smoking and lung cancer, he will give a general direction to British European Airways to prohibit cigarette smoking on its internal air routes.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Under-Secretary aware that this is a plea from a smoker? Is it not the case that the conditions in which this disease-provoking habit is exercised in an aircraft do not exist in any other form of transport? Since the conditions are unique, will he not give another thought to doing something other than appealing to local authorities to take action in this matter of bringing about an arrestment of lung cancer?
§ Mr. NeaveThe best answer I can give to the hon. Member is to refer him to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave in respect of single-deck buses and underground trains on 3rd July, when he said:
It would therefore be inappropriate to introduce general prohibitions of this kind at present, but the position will be kept under review."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd July, 1957; Vol. 572, c. 119–120.]