HL Deb 21 July 1970 vol 311 cc828-9

3.10 p.m.

LORD SORENSEN

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 the event of the introduction of commercialised radio stations, advertisements for alcoholic beverages and cigarettes will be excluded.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)

My Lords, the form and content of advertisements is one of the matters my right honourable friend the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications will be considering in the course of his examination of the arrangements for commercial broadcasting.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he would not consider it most inconsistent that commercial radio should advertise cigarettes while television does not do so? Is it not also equally inconsistent that cigarette advertisements should be prohibited, but not drink advertisements?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I take the point of the noble Lord about cigarette advertising. There has been a ban on cigarette advertising on television since August, 1965, and the arguments that led to that decision could no doubt be taken into account by my right honourable friend in the case of commercial radio. I do not see the parallel with alcoholic beverages but, as the noble Lord knows, the distillers have voluntarily refrained from advertising hard liquor on television except at Christmas. No doubt this might equally apply to commercial radio.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that if excessive cigarette smoking is banned because of its deleterious effect on human beings, and on their health, that would equally apply to the excessive consumption of drink?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I do not think that there is the same hazard to human health from the present consumption of alcohol as from cigarette smoking.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, is not "alcoholic beverages" an intolerable expression to apply to wine?

LORD PLATT

My Lords, in considering this very important question will Her Majesty's Government bear in mind that in the last annual report of the Medical Research Council it was stated as a fact that the deaths from lung cancer in this country are about four times the deaths from traffic accidents and that 90 per cent. of them could be prevented if cigarette smoking were given up?

LORD ABERDARE

Yes, my Lords, we will certainly tear that in mind. I understand that the Royal College of Physicians is to publish a report in the autumn.

LORD WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that the term "hard liquor" is particularly inappropriate for something so softening?