HC Deb 21 March 1962 vol 656 cc382-3
31. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cigarettes are sold each week in Scottish hospitals.

Mr. Galbraith

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Woodburn

While this is perhaps the last time that anyone would wish to deny patients the solace of cigarettes, is the Under-Secretary of State aware that there seem to be about 1 million cigarettes consumed a week in Scottish hospitals? Since doctors are telling the rest of the population to stop smoking, would it not be a good idea if they showed an example and stopped smoking themselves?

Mr. Galbraith

The Government's policy with regard to the danger to health from smoking is to make the position clear to the public. In addition, we are considering all the suggestions made in the recent Report of the Royal College of Physicians. I should not like to go further than that at the moment.