§ 2. Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what 1436 steps he will take to secure accurate information on the extent of hazard to health in smoking cigars and pipe tobacco.
§ The Secretary of State for Social Services (Sir Keith Joseph)On the whole, evidence to date suggests that pipe and cigar smoking is far less harmful than cigarette smoking. I am considering whether further research is needed.
§ Sir B. Rhys WilliamsWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that members of the public have it definitely in their minds that cigar and pipe smoking are relatively safe, and that they would regard it as a great deception if, in due course, research proved that this was not the case? Will he bear in mind that it is urgently necessary to ascertain the truth?
§ Sir K. JosephThe recent Report of the Royal College of Physicians came down categorically on the side of the view that cigar and pipe smoking is less dangerous than cigarette smoking.
§ Mr. PavittWhen will the right hon. Gentleman announce what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Royal College of Physicians?
§ Sir K. JosephI have already announced that I am in discussion with the cigarette manufacturers.
§ Sir G. NabarroMy right hon. Friend has twice said "less dangerous" in the context of pipe tobacco and cigars. Does not he agree that the only safe course is to abandon tobacco altogether—and in that I bracket all tobacco products, including snuff? Has his attention been drawn to the provisions of the Tobacco and Snuff (Health Hazards) Bill, already before the House and due for Second Reading on 12th February?
§ Sir K. JosephAs I read the Report of the Royal College of Physicians, I cannot answer "Yes" to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, since it thinks that there is little harm in pipe and cigar smoking. I must record that Swiss and German research shows that cigar and pipe smoking is as dangerous as cigarette smoking.
§ Sir G. NabarroI am much obliged to my right hon. Friend.
§ Sir K. JosephThe answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's question is "Yes".
§ Sir R. CaryIs my right hon. Friend aware that, while his Department spends vast sums warning people of the dangers of smoking, very many young people turn all too frequently to drugs, and that some attention should be paid to this urgent and sinister matter?
§ Sir K. JosephAlthough that does not follow from the Question, is it preoccupying the Ministers concerned in the Government, myself included.
§ Dr. SummerskillDoes the right hon. Gentleman regard the Report of the Royal College of Physicians as conclusive evidence in this very serious matter, or does he still have doubts about the evidence of the Report? Is he willing to make firm decisions on behalf of the Government on the evidence of the Report?
§ Sir K. JosephThe answer to the last part of the hon. Lady's question is "Yes". But "conclusive" is a very definitive word in a world of constantly deepening research. Certainly the Government accept the Report as a highly valuable document to be treated extremely seriously.