21. Mr. G. Wilsonasked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent continuing investigation indicates that diesel fumes are responsible for the increasing incidence of lung cancer.
§ Mr. VosperThe investigations being made under the auspices of the Medical Research Council into the nature and effects of the exhaust products of diesel engines have provided no evidence to support the suggestion that these fumes are a cause of cancer. I hope this statement will remove any misunderstanding which may have arisen as the result of a reply which I gave to a supplementary question on 4th February.
Mr. WilsonWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that wide publicity was given to the misunderstanding which arose from his previous answer and that in fact Dr. Doll's statistical evidence is rather to the contrary than in favour of supposing that diesel fumes have any connection with lung cancer?
§ Mr. VosperI had thought that my reply to the earlier supplementary question was clear. I hope that this reply will receive the same publicity.