§ 2.44 p.m.
§ LORD VIVIANMy 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 it would not be advisable to have the customary health warning printed on all duty-free cigarettes.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)My Lords, duty-free cigarettes are packaged for export with the intention that they will be purchased or taken abroad and for this reason do not carry the warning notice. It is not possible to identify at the packaging stage the small proportion of these cigarettes which eventually find their way 539 back into the United Kingdom. The warning notice is, however, printed on the packets of duty-free cigarettes which are supplied to the Royal Navy.
§ LORD VIVIANMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend the Minister for that Answer, may I ask him whether he feels that it would be a good thing if this country were to take a lead by printing the warning on all duty-free cigarettes, since the smoking of cigarettes—and I speak as an inveterate smoker—has become a world health problem?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, I am not quite certain whether I understand my noble friend aright. Does he mean that every cigarette which is exported should carry this warning? I do not think it would be proper for Her Majesty's Government to draw the attention of people in other countries to what our views may be.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, that is an extraordinary answer. Can the noble Lord tell me why the health of those smoking duty-free cigarettes is of less importance than the health of those smoking non-duty-free cigarettes, whether they are abroad or at home, or in the Army or the Air Force?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, it is not a question of the duty-free cigarettes. Those are the few which find their way back into this country. Although we should like to see the warning printed on the packets it is simply a matter that it would be administratively difficult to sort out those which were for export and those which come back into the United Kingdom. In general, I do not think it would be right for all cigarettes sent abroad from this country to bear a warning issued by the Government of this country regardless of the fact that they were to be purchased by people in other countries.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he does not realise that the objective is to protect the person who is smoking them, irrespective of what country he is in?
§ LORD ABERDAREThere is that point of view, my Lords; but I just think that Her Majesty's Government are responsible to the people of this country.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, since the Government command only limited support in this country, can the noble Lord say how far a Government warning is likely to be heeded? Would it not be far more effective if this warning were issued by the Department of Health and Social Security?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, I could not possibly agree with the first part of the noble Lord's supplementary question, and he has rather broadened the issue. I do not think that is a subject that we should discuss at the moment.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, quite seriously, could not the noble Lord be good enough to answer the second part of my question?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, it is another question entirely, but I think it is much better that there should be a Government health warning.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, will the noble Lord say what has been the effect of the health warning on the cigarettes provided for the Royal Navy?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, my noble friend the Secretary of State for Defence has taken his responsibilities in the matter most seriously and has been educating members of the Royal Navy to the dangers of smoking.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLHear, hear! That is excellent, my Lords.
§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, can the noble Lord not think of some other perquisite for the Royal Navy which is rather more health promoting than cheap cigarettes?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, I will certainly convey that suggestion to my noble friend.
§ LORD ILFORDMy Lords, is it not the case that these warnings against the consumption of cigarettes prove completely ineffective and fail to check in any substantial degree the consumption of cigarettes? And would it not be better for Her Majesty's Government to withdraw from this campaign before they become totally ridiculous?
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, that is another matter. We are now getting 541 into a debate on the effectiveness of the Government health warning. I will only say that my right honourable friend is reviewing the whole operation of the voluntary scheme and in due course he will be making a statement.