§ 26. Sir G. Nabarroasked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the interest of Her Majesty's Government as a matter of public policy in the volume and extent of cigarette smoking, whether he will make a statement concerning pricing and advertising policies for cigarettes.
§ Mr. JayThe Government's prices and incomes policy applies to cigarettes as to other goods. As to cigarette advertising, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health said to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 6th February.—[Vol. 740, c. 1102.]
§ Sir G. NabarroHas the right hon. Gentleman perceived that it has taken four years—from 1964 to 1968, the estimated date—to bring the cigarette and tobacco case before the Restrictive Practices Court? Having regard to all the public controversy about price cutting on cigarettes and tobacco, cannot the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices to have this massively important matter heard by the court at a much earlier date than the middle of next year?
§ Mr. JayWhen the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill was introduced, as the hon. Gentleman may remember, I said that the whole process would take much too long. Experience has borne that out.
§ Sir G. NabarroWhat is the right hon. Gentleman doing about it?
§ Mr. JayIf the hon. Gentleman is asking me to interfere with the legal processes instituted by his Government before Parliament has altered the law, I cannot do it.