52. Mr. Buchanasked the Minister of Health if he will take further action on cigarette advertising, particularly with regard to methods involving free distribution, details of which have been sent to him.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThis is under active consideration, but I am not in a position to make a statement at present.
Mr. BuchanWill my right hon. Friend have another look at the appalling figures for lung cancer, particularly in Scotland? Will he keep in mind that the television advertising expenditure of the cigarette companies appears to be transferred to the Press, to free gifts and free sampling methods which I have shown to my right hon. Friend? The Imperial Tobacco Company told us that it does not know if it is involved in this practice. I think we should find out and stop the practice.
§ Mr. RobinsonThe information sent to me by my hon. Friend appears to relate to market research and not to advertising as such, but I deprecate the free distribution of cigarettes by or on behalf of manufacturers.