§ Mr. Hornbyasked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking, following the publication of the Royal College of Physicians' report on "Smoking and Health", a copy of which has been sent to him, to discourage smoking by schoolchildren.
§ Sir D. EcclesMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are drawing the attention of the local education authorities to this important Report immediately. Children and young people must be warned in every way possible of the dangers to their future health of smoking, particularly of cigarettes, and discouraged from forming the smoking habit. We are asking for the co-operation of local education authorities, teachers, and all those who work with children.
I shall publish separately a revised version of the section in the Ministry's pamphlet Health Education which deals with the dangers of smoking, incorporating material from this Report. Further measures will be discussed and worked out with all those concerned.
The Secretary of State is taking comparable steps in Scotland.