§ 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, in view of the fact that smoking in cinemas is prohibited in most Western countries, they would consult with local authorities on the possibility of a similar ban being imposed in Great Britain.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)My Lords, the noble Lord has no doubt seen the statement made in another place by the former Minister of Health in January last year about smoking in public places generally. We are seeking further information about foreign experience in the field covered by the noble Lord's Question, and shall keep the possibility under review.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for that reply, but it really does not go very far. As I do not recall what was said in another place in January I would ask him whether he could paraphrase it for me in a few words.
§ LORD KENNETWith your Lordships' permission, I would sooner send the Statement to the noble Lord, as it was rather full.
§ LORD NEWTONMy Lords, will the noble Lord accept that I should like to support the noble Lord, Lord Amulree? Do not the Government think that this is something on which this Government and this country should make up their own minds, without bothering too much about what happens in other countries?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, we know that at least five countries, France, Sweden, New Zealand, Switzerland and certain States of the United States of America, ban smoking in cinemas, and I think we should first of all find out a little more about why they do and how it has turned out, although I agree with the assumption behind the noble Lord's original Question that this is a proposition well worth considering.
§ LORD NEWTONMy Lords, do the Government know why this is done in other countries?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, as at present advised, I believe it was because it was thought to reduce the risk of fire.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, do not Her Majesty's Government think that, supposing they were to engage in consultations such as I have mentioned, it might show that there was some willingness to try to stop the spread of an unpleasant disease which seems to me closely involved in the smoking of cigarettes?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, there is the greatest willingness on the part of the Government to do what can be done to stop the spread of lung cancer. The difficulty is to get people to be sensible about it.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, could my noble friend explain to me why, while the Government control the advertising of tobacco on the screen, nevertheless they do nothing to discourage those who are concerned with the I.T.V. and the B.B.C. from showing pictures in which apparently the heroine and the hero always smoke?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, the Government have arranged for the control of cigarette advertising, not tobacco advertising, but I would hesitate at this moment to go any further in saying what the Government might do about controlling television programmes.