§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD AIREDALEMy 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 virtual certainty that American cigarette packets will shortly be required by law to bear prominent warnings of the danger to health of cigarette smoking, they will introduce legislation to the same effect.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)My Lords, I understand that legislation on this subject is under consideration in the United States Congress, but no final conclusion has been reached. Her Majesty's Government are at present considering whether further steps are needed here to strengthen the health education campaign on the risks to health of cigarette smoking, and if so what steps are likely to be most effective.
§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord for his Answer. Is not this idea a rather better one than the poster campaign, reaching as it would the people who need to be warned on this matter, and at no cost to the taxpayer?
§ LORD TAYLORThat is by no means certain, my Lords. The people who need to be warned most are youngsters before they start smoking. If at the outset they can be discouraged from starting to 818 smoke there is much more hope that they may remain non-smokers. To that end, the Ministry have produced a special film for the nine to twelve year olds which is, I think, very effective.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, in view of the fact that there were 23,000 deaths from cancer of the lung last year, could my noble friend tell me how far the educational campaign has gone? For instance, what proportion of sixth forms or fifth forms and even fourth forms are taught that smoking is harmful?
§ LORD TAYLORMy Lords, I cannot give any precise figures, but I can say that in the next twelve months £117,000 will be spent on publicity by film, poster and advertisement; in addition, as regards children, well-known sportsmen and sportswomen who are non-smokers have been featured in children's magazines, making the point that they do not smoke and that smoking is bad for health and fitness.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, I am sorry to press my noble friend, but he will agree that for years and years we have asked for this education to be undertaken. Can he tell me in writing just how far the Ministry of Healthhas co-operated with the Ministry of Education in this matter, and what proposition of teachers and others in charge of children are using their time and energies to warn theseboys and girls?
§ LORD TAYLORMy Lords, in fact I have tried to discover these precise figures, but since they are a matter for local authorities it will be very difficult to obtain them. Nevertheless, I will do my best and write to the noble Lady.
§ LORD NEWTONMy Lords, does the noble Lord realise—I think he probably does—that one of the great difficulties is that a great many people who are responsible for the education services in this country do not accept that health education is part of education?
§ LORD TAYLORMy Lords, that is a perfectly fair point. Health education is a part of education.