§ 2.57 p.m.
848§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, having regard to their persistent efforts to draw the attention of the nation to the danger from cancer to smokers of cigarettes, and, in a less degree, to smokers of pipes, but not of cigars, they will consider a very drastic cut in the duties on cigars and cigar tobacco, in order to bring them within the reach of ordinary mortals; and whether they will also use their influence to diminish the smoking of cigarettes.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)My Lords, leaf tobacco is dutiable at the time when it is withdrawn by the tobacco manufacturer from bonded warehouse, at uniform rates irrespective of the type of tobacco or of the purpose for which it may subsequently be used by the manufacturer. Imports of cigars and other manufactured tobacco are dutied at rates which are related to the duty on leaf tobacco. There would be substantial practical difficulties in applying different rates of duty to different kinds of tobacco. There is some evidence of risks to health from smoking cigars, though the risks from cigar or pipe smoking are less than those from cigarettes. The Government are vigorously pursuing their health education campaign on the dangers of smoking generally.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that in British aircraft only cigarettes are allowed to be smoked? Would he bring to the notice of the aircraft firms the fact that cigarettes are more dangerous than pipes and cigars, and would they therefore allow pipes and cigars to be smoked in aeroplanes, as I understand K.L.M. now permits the smoking of cigars?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I do not think that question would be affected by the rate of duty.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, is it not possible that the regulations of the aircraft companies are based on the 849 convenience of those who do not smoke, rather than on the convenience of those who do?
§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether the Government might not profitably take a great deal more interest in the purpose for which leaf tobacco is used, in the light of the knowledge that leaf tobacco used for cigarettes is highly deleterious to health, whereas leaf tobacco used for pipes and cigars is very much less harmful? This repetition by Her Majesty's Ministers of the difficulty of differentiating between the different kinds of uses of leaf tobacco should not continue; the Government should interest themselves a great deal more in the purposes for which leaf tobacco is used.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I sympathise with the noble Lord's desire that all pleasures should be made a little cheaper, even although the precise degree of innocence attached to them may be uncertain. But this proposal was put forward two years ago, and was rejected by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of that time in his Budget. I am afraid that there would not be much chance of its being accepted now.
§ VISCOUNT ASTORMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether the use of snuff does any harm whatsoever? If not, would he consider providing a snuff box at the door of this House, in the same way as it is provided in another place?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, it does a certain amount of harm, I think, to one's immediate neighbours.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, as the matter has been so far expounded and is covered by the last part of my Question, may I suggest to the noble Earl, if he has any influenc3 with B.E.A.—whose flights within this country are seldom of more than an hour, and I think never more than two hours—that he should represent that, as cigarette smoking is probably most harmful on the eyes in such a closed atmosphere as that of an aeroplane, it would be a great boon to us all if, for this short period, all smoking were discontinued?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I have no influence with B.E.A., but I 850 hope they will read the noble Lord's supplementary.