§ 13. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take further to strengthen his campaign against cigarette smoking, with special reference to the damaging effects on health.
§ Sir K. JosephI expect to publish about the end of the year a revised list of the tar and nicotine yields of brands of cigarettes on sale in the United Kingdom. Arrangements have been made with the industry for hints on less dangerous ways of smoking to be placed on cigarette packet inserts. The money made available by the Government to the Health Education Council for smoking and health during the current financial year is likely to exceed the £380,000 made available last year. The Hunter Committee will shortly begin work on the scientific aspects of smoking and health including consideration of research into less dangerous smoking and of testing systems for the health effects of tobacco and tobacco substitutes.
§ Sir G. NabarroCannot my right hon. Friend be required to read that answer at a reasonable pace, so that the questioner and others can absorb the nature of the reply, Mr. Speaker? May we have it read again?
§ Sir K. JosephI apologise to my hon. Friend and the House, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend's Question required a long answer, and I did my best to shorten it. I thought it right to read it at a fast pace because there are many facts about Government activity to explain to the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Edelman.
§ Sir G. Nabarrorose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have called the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman).
§ Mr. EdelmanWill the Secretary of State give his view of those cigarette manufacturers who cash in on the public interest in athletics for the purpose of promoting tournaments where, while professing to encourage good health, 359 they are advertising the means to speedy disease?
§ Sir K. JosephI think that that is unfair to the manufacturers. I have drawn to their attention the need to avoid advertising brands of cigarettes whilst sponsoring sporting activities. Although they are co-operating fully, if the hon. Gentleman has an example to the contrary perhaps he will let me know.
§ Mr. SpeakerI will give the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) the chance to ask a short and quick supplementary question.
§ Sir G. NabarroI will ask my normal supplementary question, which is both short and quick, Mr. Speaker. Will my right hon. Friend read the Question? Is it not a fact that statistical evidence now provided shows that in 1972 cigarette smoking increased by 6½ per cent., and that therefore the position is worse among cigarette smokers than it was when he introduced his preventive measures two years ago?
§ Sir K. JosephYes, Sir. Yes, Sir. We must therefore now put a lot of hope in the voluntary movement of the smoking public towards less dangerous cigarettes and the possible prospects of smoking-substitutes.