HC Deb 01 July 1980 vol 987 cc1280-2
3. Dr. Mawhinney

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the outcome of his discussions with the tobacco industry.

24. Mr Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the outcome of his talks with the tobacco industry.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Our discussions with the industry are still in progress and I shall make a statement to the House when we reach agreement.

Dr. Mawhinney

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Will he confirm that discussions with the tobacco industry include the subject of publication of carbon monoxide levels in cigarettes? Does he agree that the publication of those levels is important, bearing in mind that they can be scientifically determined, as has recently been demonstrated by a Sunday newspaper?

Mr. Jenkin

I fully accept the importance of being able to publish carbon monoxide figures for different brands of cigarettes, subject to one point—that any figures for which my Department takes responsibility are known to be accurate. The industry has made its calculations. They are being tested by the Government Chemist. Depending upon the results of the tests I hope that we shall be able to reach agreement with the industry on how the figures can best be presented.

Mr. Dubs

If the Minister does not succeed in persuading the industry to take a more positive stand against advertising, will he use the threat to legislate as a last resort?

Mr. Jenkin

The hon. Gentleman will know that there was little enthusiasm for legislation when we debated the issue in May. Discussions with the industry are proving to be constructive. Both sides agreed at the outset that we should not conduct our negotiations in public but that we wanted to reach an agreement.

Mr. Higgins

Is not there a waste of resources involved in the Government spending money on warning advertising against cigarette smoking when the industry spends more on encouraging smoking? In his discussions will my right hon. Friend take account of the proposal that the amount of Government warnings on cigarette packets and elsewhere should be equal to the amount of advertising designed to promote cigarettes?

Mr. Jenkin

I take note of my right hon. Friend's suggestion. He will realise that the health warning is one of the subjects of the current negotiations.

Mr. Moyle

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the time for reaching a voluntary agreement with the tobacco industry is grossly overdue? Does he agree that, while the time for reaching a voluntary agreement is rapidly disappearing, the time for introducing restrictive legislation on tobacco advertising is rapidly approaching? Without wishing to buy a pig in a poke, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if he introduced legislation, Opposition Members would want to be as co-operative as possible?

Mr. Jenkin

I take note of that. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will adhere to the view which he held when he was responsible for these matters—that it is better to proceed by consent and agreement if that is possible. These are complex matters raising sensitive and difficult issues for the industry and other involvements. It is right to take time to reach a satisfactory agreement.