§ Lord Henderson of BromptonMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they agree with the conclusions of an article in the British Medical Journal (vol. 283, 26th September 1981) that "the rapid absorption of nicotine from snuff confirms its potential as an acceptable and relatively harmless substitute for smoking".
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, on the evidence available there are no indications at present that snuff-taking by inhalation carries any substantial risk to health.
§ Lord Henderson of BromptonMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer. Is she aware that it accords with the Answer which her noble friend Lord Glenarthur gave me to a Written Question that there is no evidence that snuff-taking by inhalation as practised in this country constitutes a health risk? If that is so, why do not the Government actively encourage smokers who cannot kick the habit to change to snuff?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, the Government would not wish to encourage people to use snuff. Snuff products contain nicotine which is an addictive drug, and dependence on such drugs is to be discouraged. Incidentally, according to the British Medical Journal, the noble Lord, Lord Henderson of Brompton, and indeed my noble friend the Chief Whip, qualify as 2 daily snuffers while I, apparently, am only a virgin snuffer.
§ Lord FerrierMy Lords, arising out of the noble Lord's question, may I ask—as one who smoked a pipe for more than half a century and has had to give it up—whether the Government appreciate that the use of snuff is tremendously helpful in assuaging the pangs of withdrawal if one gives up smoking? If possible, that should be encouraged if only to help people who want to give up smoking and find it very difficult to do so.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, in answer to my noble friend, the Government continue to urge people to give up cigarettes because of the serious risk to health, but there are other preferable ways of helping people to stop. We would advise smokers who wish to give up to seek advice from their doctor.
§ Lord EnnalsMy Lords, will the noble Baroness accept my congratulations to her on her virginity in snuffing? Is she aware that while the personal pleasures of snuff sniffing, as opposed to solvent abuse, seem to be negligible as she has said, this fact is likely to be exploited? There are reports by an American firm which is planning to launch on to the British market a product called "Skoal Bandits" which are sachets placed in the mouth and which have supposedly the same effect as snuff but, as I understand it, in fact produce cancer of the mouth?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, I am aware that there are plans to put this type of product, which is currently available in the United States, on to the British market. The Government are having discussions with the company concerned and are considering the possible effects on health; but I am not in a position to say what steps, if any, the Government will wish to take. That will depend on what emerges from the present inquiries.
Baroness VickersMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend why are Members of the House of Commons allowed to have a pinch of snuff any time they like?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, I entirely agree with the gist of the noble Baroness's words, that it is most unfair.
§ Lord LeatherlandMy Lords, can the noble Baroness tell us whether snuff taking is less harmful than smoking or more harmful than smoking?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, I thought I had already answered that question.
§ Lord Henderson of BromptonMy Lords, if this is the attitude of the Government, of the Royal College and that much respected body ASH, is it not rather a killjoy attitude? Is it not a case of the best being the enemy of the good? Furthermore, might I ask her if she does not agree that the British Medical Journal article also referred to another advantage of snuff in that it does not contaminate the atmosphere of non-users?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, I really think that in answer to the noble Lord I can only agree with him.
Lord MorrisMy Lords, will not my noble friend agree that there is certain danger in snuff takers asking Her Majesty's Government to encourage the use of snuff, for if it becomes too popular it will inevitably be taxed?