§ Q2. Mr. Pavittasked the Prime Minister if he will now state the results of the examination by the Ministries of Health, Education, Service Departments and other Ministries concerned, of the report on cigarettes and lung cancer made by the Royal College of Physicians.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)No, Sir. These studies are not yet complete.
§ Mr. PavittDoes the Prime Minister recall that sixteen days ago his right hon. Friend answered a similar Question by saying twice that this was being done as a matter of urgency? Is he aware that, since that statement, on the average figures, another 960 people will have died in this country from lung cancer? Is he further aware that the rate is now running at sixty per day and is increasing annually by three per day? In the light of those circumstances, would not the Government have taken serious action if it were a question of either polio or smallpox?
§ The Prime MinisterCertain action has been taken by my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Health and Education and the Secretary of State for Scotland through the local health and education authorities. Any much wider action would no doubt require legislation and would involve very serious discussion.
§ Mr. GaitskellWhen do the Government expect to receive the report of this Committee—as I suppose it is—which is examining this question?
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friends are looking into that. It is a difficult question, as I think the right hon. Member will agree. There are certain measures we can take and have taken, but other measures require more consideration.
§ Mr. LeatherIs my right hon. Friend aware that many doctors think that air pollution has far more to do with lung cancer than tobacco has?
§ The Prime MinisterI think we must accept the broad view of the medical report, but I do not think anyone would doubt that in a free country like this it 1525 is a very big question how far it can be implemented by legislative or any other action.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerWill the right hon. Gentleman also consider the amount of money spent by the manufacturers on advertising cigarettes?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I have seen the recommendations of an advertising tobacco publication in the advertising inquiry. That is another question. On the broad issue I must repeat and at risk—I think certain other hon. Members feel the same—I ought to declare a certain interest in this matter.
§ Mr. GaitskellDoes not the Prime Minister agree that the Home Secretary said, on his behalf I think, that the whole question of advertising cigarettes was one of the issues which was being gone into by the Government? Did I understand the Prime Minister to say that that is not the case?
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I said there had been some preliminary reports, which perhaps the right hon. Gentleman has also seen, on this matter from the Advertising Inquiry Council.
§ Mr. PavittI beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.