HL Deb 21 January 1964 vol 254 cc804-6

2.50 p.m.

THE EARL OF ARRAN

My 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, in view of the report by the United States Surgeon General, confirming that of the Royal College of Physicians, Her Majesty's Ministers will set an example to the country by announcing their intention to give up cigarette smoking.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HEALTH (LORD NEWTON)

My Lords, to smoke or not to smoke is just as personal a matter for Ministers as it is for anybody else, but if it is of any interest to my noble friend, I do not mind admitting that I gave up smoking some years ago.

THE EARL OF ARRAN

My Lords, in regretting that reply, may I point out to Her Majesty's Ministers that by this sole act of self-sacrifice, publicly pronounced, they have it in their power, without over-statement, to save hundreds and perhaps thousands of human lives; and this being so, may I ask Her Majesty's Government with deep humility to reconsider this question?

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, I am not saying that it would not be an excellent thing if all Ministers decided to give up smoking cigarettes—it would. All I am saying is that it is a matter for personal decision by them. As to leadership, it may be that my noble friend could give a lead himself by seeking to persuade those newspapers with which he is associated to stop publishing cigarette advertisements.

THE EARL OF ARRAN

My Lords, may I assure Her Majesty's Government that I have done my best in this direction, and that I do not propose to relax my efforts. Would not Her Majesty's Government agree that, while no one will pay any attention to what I do or say, their example can have a deep effect?

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, is it seriously suggested that Her Majesty's Ministers would have as much publicity as the noble Earl, Lord Arran?

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, while I am pleased to hear that the noble Lord, Lord Newton, is a reformed character (it is an indication that he understands the importance of this matter), may I ask him whether he will ask his right honourable friend the Minister of Health to consider this suggestion—that a warning issued by the Ministry of Health indicating the dangers to health should be inserted in every packet of cigarettes?

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, of course I will always consider any suggestion, but the Government's policy is to do everything they can to make the facts about smoking and ill-health available to people, so that they can draw their own conclusions. By "people", I mean those who smoke cigarettes, those who have not started but may be thinking about smoking, those who manufacture cigarettes and those who publish cigarette advertisements.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, whilst entirely supporting what my noble friend Lady Summerskill has said about the importance of advertising the dangers of smoking, would the noble Lord not agree that this kind of inquiry into the personal habits of Ministers, or of anyone else, is quite unhealthy and may provoke inquiries about the dangers of the consumption of alcohol and almost anything else?

LORD REA

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that the Cabinet have joint responsibility for making any smokescreen the Government may wish to raise?

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree, in view of the nearness of the General Election, that the Government might be allowed to die in peace from cigarette smoking? The question might better be put to their successors on the Front Bench.

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, I was just about to express my gratitude for the friendly concern shown by your Lordships for the health of Her Majesty's Ministers. I thoroughly endorse it.

LORD MESTON

My Lords, is not the true answer that Ministers should be allowed to smoke and drink and do what they damn' well like?

THE EARL OF ARRAN

While delighting in the sprightly wit of the noble Lord, may I remind Her Majesty's Government that we are talking about death in its most odious form?

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, may I be allowed a supplementary question, because this is a very serious matter? Would not the noble Lord agree that the comparatively recent decision that the pharmaceutical industry should label their products in order to protect the health of the public has some analogy to what I have suggested?

LORD NEWTON

Possibly a trifle, my Lords.