§ 16. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider reducing purchase tax on filter devices which are available for cigarettes in order to reduce the nicotine and tar content.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinAll the rates of purchase tax were reduced by a little over 18 per cent. in July; the state of medical knowledge does not suggest that a further special reduction for these articles would be justified.
§ Mr. LewisIs it not rather odd that the Government should place health warnings on cigarette packets yet retain a tax which makes more expensive 1122 a safeguard against the smoking danger? If it can be proved medically that these are safeguards and useful, will my hon. Friend consider reducing this tax?
§ Mr. JenkinThe second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is hypothetical. However, I remind him that earlier this year the Royal College of Physicians reported in its publication "Smoking and Health Now":
Too little is known at present about the medical significance of the many individual chemical components of the 'tar' and of the numerous compounds in the gaseous fraction of cigarette smoke to warrant publication of detailed analyses or advocating the use of special filters designed to eliminate particular gaseous fractions.
§ Sir G. NabarroA very good answer.