Passive Smoking (Hansard, 9 November 2004)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)
My Lords, health Ministers have been clarifying aspects of the committee's report. The report reviews previously published scientific literature on the health effects of second-hand smoke. It updates the committee's 1998 report on this subject. It will be published alongside the White Paper on public health.

§ Baroness O'Cathain
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer, which he will not be surprised to learn I do not think is very satisfactory. Could he at least confirm that the report contains the most devastating indictment yet of the danger of second-hand smoke? Is it true that the report states that as a result of second-hand smoke there is an increased risk of 25 per cent for lung cancer and 24 per cent for heart disease; and that it recommends that no infant, child or adult should be exposed to second-hand smoke as it is a substantial public health hazard?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, I am afraid that the noble Baroness will have to wait until the report is published. 748 I have always found that deferred gratification makes the enjoyment of reading documents even richer. Over the past year the Government have taken a number of steps to raise awareness of the health risks associated with second-hand smoke. We funded the UK's first ever substantial campaign to raise public awareness of the health risks from second-hand smoke. Many noble Lords may have seen those advertisements on the television.

§ Lord Clement-Jones
My Lords, is it not clear that, in the light of the report, a key priority must now be to protect the health of staff in pubs and clubs through a ban on smoking in public places? In Ireland, where similar steps have been taken, some 90 per cent compliance is being achieved. Is that not the model that the Government should be following?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, the Government do take the issue of second-hand smoke very seriously, as I have indicated. The noble Lord will, however, have to wait until the White Paper is published when he will see what the Government's policy is on that particular issue. I should say to the House, "You will not have very much longer to wait". Of course the Government have been following what has been going on in Ireland, but it is a question of one size not fitting all; in this area we have to do what is right for England.

§ Lord Faulkner of Worcester
My Lords, given the fact that the Government now apparently accept the argument that passive smoking is dangerous for people who have the misfortune to inhale it and given the Irish experience, which is based on the need to protect employees from the dangers of second-hand smoke, will my noble friend explain the possible justification for protecting employees who work in restaurants but not those who work in pubs and clubs, which apparently is what is going to be in the White Paper when we see it next week?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, my noble friend is better informed than the Minister answering the Question on that particular issue. I should be happy to discuss with him the source of his information, but like everybody else in the House he will have to wait patiently for the Government's White Paper—but not too much longer.

§ Lord Chan
My Lords, is the Minister aware of the study done last year on Merseyside called Passive Smoking and Children? It demonstrated that parents, including those who are smokers, are particularly concerned about their children's health because so many of them have asthma and require emergency health at the Alder Hey Children's Hospital. It stated that 65 per cent of parents smoked; only 35 per cent did not smoke in the presence of their children and 40 per cent smoked at home. In view of that, is it not a good time for the Government to make clear the dangers of passive smoking and to take action to improve the health of our population?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, as I said earlier, we are actively engaged in raising public awareness of this 749 problem. The TV campaign that is currently being used should make all parents aware of the dangers to their children of second-hand smoke. I am aware of the study that the noble Lord mentions. It is good to see that people accept their responsibilities in relation to their children.

§ Baroness Hayman
My Lords, despite the Government's attempts to bring the matter to people's attention, is my noble friend aware that there are still 2 million workers in this country who have no protection whatever against second-hand smoke? Since he seemed to indicate that the White Paper content has not been completely settled yet, will he do his best to ensure that those 2 million people will in future he protected?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, we are aware of all these figures and of the concerns. I would draw my noble friend's attention to the fact that we now have a situation where in total 88 per cent of people's workplaces either restrict smoking to specific areas or are completely smoke-free.

§ Lord Monson
My Lords, can the Minister say how many death certificates issued in the past 10 years have recorded passive smoking as the cause of death?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, I am not aware of those particular figures. I do know that the Chief Medical Officer is actually reviewing the arrangements in relation to death certificates.

§ Lord Roberts of Conwy
My Lords, I confess to being an occasional smoker. I am somewhere between Mark Twain and St Augustine on this particular issue. First, will the noble Lord tell us whether the publication of the White Paper actually means a commitment on the Government's part to a ban on smoking in public places? Secondly, will he reassure me that, with all this talk of passive smoking, the Government are doing their utmost to help poor people like me who still cannot give it up?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, the sinner who repents is much valued by this Government. I draw the noble Lord's attention to the availability of quitters' clinics in the NHS. We should be delighted to see him. I shall make any arrangements that he thinks may be helpful in that regard.
On the other issue, the noble Lord will, like everybody else, have to wait patiently for the Government's White Paper.

§ Baroness Howarth of Breckland
My Lords, would it not be helpful to the noble Lord, Lord Roberts, if the House of Lords set a good example?

§ Lord Warner
Well, my Lords, I am sure that that is right, but that is not a matter for me; it is a matter for the House authorities.

§ Viscount Simon
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Chan, mentioned children who need emergency 750 treatment as a result of inhaling tobacco smoke. For the past 10 years, I have been one of those children who needs emergency treatment from time to time. Can my noble friend advise the House how much smoking-related diseases cost the health service and, if he can, what is the benefit the Exchequer receives from tobacco products?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, I do not have those figures in my head now, but I shall write to my noble friend with them. We know that deaths from smoking are a serious feature of care and costs in the NHS.

§ Lord Glentoran
My Lords, can the noble Lord tell the House which costs the National Health Service more: obesity or passive smoking?

§ Lord Warner
My Lords, I am not sure that I heard the question: I shall find it out later from the noble Lord and reply to it.

§ Lord Grocott
My Lords, we are into the 16th minute.