HC Deb 01 May 1980 vol 983 c649W
Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what average age he estimates that the 50,000 people who die prematurely as a result of smoking will die; and how this compares with the national average age.

Sir George Young

On the basis of the available information, the Royal College of Physicians calculated in its report " Smoking or Health " (page 32) that the average loss of life of a smoker of 20 cigarettes per day is about five years, and that on average each cigarette smoked reduces an habitual smoker's life by about five-and-a-half minutes.