§ 16. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has that cigarette smoking in the United Kingdom has declined during the two years ended in March 1973, following his special provisions, including the health warnings on cigarette packets and attendant matters; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThere is little that I can yet add to my reply to my hon. Friend on 6th February about the changes in the amount of cigarette smoking in the last two years.—[Vol. 850, c. 200–1.]
The information I published recently about the tar and nicotine yields of brands of cigarettes sold in the United Kingdom should help and encourage those who are unable to give up cigarette smoking to smoke less dangerously.
§ Sir G. NabarroMy right hon. Friend continues to procrastinate about this. Is he not aware that over the last few years it has become quite obvious that to all concerned with promoting the non-smoking campaign that there is a deep divide between himself and myself? He prefers the non-legislative approach while I prefer the legislative approach. Since we have now failed absolutely to make any impact on cigarette smoking, and since all the evidence is that we have made no impact, will he not reconsider his earlier shibboleths and make an investment in legislation?
§ Sir K. JosephI fear that I am not considering legislation. I hate to disappoint my hon. Friend, whose enthusiasm I share. There are a couple of hopeful signs. First, we must give the new tar and nicotine yield tables time to assert what I hope will be a rational hold on the mind of the smoking public. Second, there has been a rise in the proportion of adults who are non-smokers as revealed in the 1971 figures.
§ Mr. PavittIs it not a fact that each time the Royal College of Physicians has issued a report on the subject the amount of smoking has decreased, but that already the impact of the last report has been absorbed and the extent of smoking is rising again? Is it not time the Secretary of State took more stringent action in this regard? Is it not also a fact that the publicising of nicotine and tar contents merely changes the kind of cigarette smoked and not the amount of content consumed, and that the growth of emphysema and chest diseases indicates the need for much stronger action on the right hon. Gentleman's part?
§ Sir K. JosephWe shall not begin to be able to judge the effect of the tar and nicotine yield tables for some months, but if they shift the choice of smokers towards the lower tar and nicotine yield content cigarettes the hon. Gentleman's fears will not be realised and there will be a smaller amount of dangerous substances being smoked.
§ Mr. Idris OwenDoes my right hon. Friend agree, in view of the hopeful signs he has indicated this afternoon, that if we encourage the owners of public and private establishments and of transport to allocate greater areas for non-smokers, that might act as an additional deterrent to those who wish to smoke continuously?
§ Sir K. JosephI am sure that my hon. Friend is right. There are hopeful signs in transport and in some entertainment establishments, but I think my hon. Friend will agree that we cannot go too far ahead of public opinion, because then we may run into enforcement difficulties.