§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is true that there has been a considerable increase in tobacco advertising since the debate on the Report of the Royal College of Physicians on Smoking and Health.]
3§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, I am not aware of any evidence of a recent increase in tobacco advertising. Indeed, I understand that tobacco companies are no longer advertising on television before about 9 p.m.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Viscount for his reply, because it helps, when I have seen a figure indicating that advertising has trebled or quadrupled, and I take it we may assume that that is not the case.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMMy Lords, I have no evidence that would justify that sort of statement; nor is it the impression I get from seeing the amount of advertising that is going on. The impression I get, purely subjectively, from examining it is that there has been a certain switch from cigarettes to cigars and pipes and also to various types of filters, whose advertisement, I suppose would come under the general expression of "tobacco advertising".