§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a sustained large-scale health education campaign on the dangers of smoking.
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§ Sir George YoungA sustained programme of health education to increase public awareness and understanding of the dangers of smoking will continue to be a major feature of our policy on smoking and health. In his general review of measures to reduce the incidence of disease related to smoking, my right hon. Friend will be considering the future scale and nature of this programme.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish the report by the 1971 interdepartmental committee on smoking and health; if he will take this into account in his negotiations with the tobacco industry now taking place; when he expects these negotiations to be concluded; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungInterdepartmental discussions on smoking and health have taken place under successive Administrations and are taken into account when current advice is formulated. It would not, however, be appropriate to publish particular advice tendered to a previous Administration. As regards the hon. Member's questions about current negotiations with the tobacco industry, I would refer her to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East, (Mr. Taylor) on 25 April.—[Vol. 983, c.309.]