HC Deb 19 December 1960 vol 632 cc853-5
12. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increased Press advertising of cigarettes from £1,400,000 during the first nine months of 1959 to £2,200,000 in 1960 and the increased expenditure on tobacco from £274 million in the third quarter of 1959 to £301 million in 1960, he will take further steps to publicise the connection between smoking and lung cancer.

9. Mr. Skeffington

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the greatly increased recent expenditure on tobacco advertisement, some of which is directly aimed at teenagers; and whether he will take powers to control advertising of this type.

10. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health what recent further action he has taken to further the campaigns of the local health authorities which are aimed at discouraging young people from smoking; and what success these campaigns are having.

Mr. Powell

There is good evidence that people in this country are widely aware of the risks involved in smoking. The health education measures of local authorities are largely directed to the young and should ensure that this awareness is maintained and intensified. I consider this approach to the problem is the right one.

Mr. Lipton

But does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the efforts of local health authorities to educate children in this matter and to persuade them not to start smoking are completely overwhelmed by the fantastic amount spent, as indicated in the Question I put to him? Does it not show that smoking has gone mad, and that the Government must do a little more about it than they are doing?

Mr. Powell

I have no reason to think that the facts are not reaching the public, and not reaching the younger members of the public, but they must be regarded as responsible people who take their own decisions.

Dr. Summerskill

Every day we see propaganda on behalf of the tobacco interests directed at young people. I asked the Minister a similar question last week about another matter. Can he tell us what form his propaganda is taking to counter the pernicious effects of the business interests?

Mr. Powell

Local health authorities have their methods of local health education, and material of all kinds is provided by my Department for their assistance.

Mr. Pavitt

In view of the recent report of the Joint Tuberculosis Council on this subject, and also the results of the inquiry in the City of Edinburgh on the effect of local authority propaganda, will the Minister look at this question again and, instead of passing the buck to local authorities, see if he can take direct action from his Department.

Mr. Powell

There is no question of passing the buck. This is the responsibility of local authorities. The evidence obtained from surveys is that the public are widely aware of the effects of this matter.