HC Deb 29 April 1971 vol 816 cc210-2W
Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the precise terms and text of his secret agreement with the tobacco manufacturers to give effect to the health warnings recommended by the Second Report of the Royal College of Physicians; and which recommendations are not included in such agreement.

Sir K. Joseph

The agreement was not secret; I have explained to the House on more than one occasion what it contained. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to that part of my answer to his Questions on 16th March where I referred to the interdepartmental study commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister of all the implications of the Royal College's report as a preliminary to the consideration of any further steps that may be necessary. —[Vol. 813, c. 1193.]

The following record of a meeting between myself and representatives of the tobacco manufacturing industry contains the agreement:

Present:

  • Secretary of State for Social Services.
  • Officials of the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of Trade and Industry.
  • Mr. M. M. Ord Johnstone, C.B., Chairman, Tobacco Advisory Committee.
  • Mr. W. F. J. Carter, Deputy Chairman, Imperial Tobacco Group.
  • Mr. K. A. Elson, Imperial Tobacco Group.
  • Mr. J. M. Brown, Managing Director, Carreras Ltd.
  • Mr. C. R. L. Matchett, Director, Carreras Ltd.
  • Mr. M. Norman, Chairman, Gallahers Ltd.
  • Mr. A. W. H. Stewart-Moore, Managing Director, Gallahers Ltd.
  • Mr. L. F. G. Pritchard, Director, Gallahers Ltd.
  • Mr. C. C. Redstone, Chairman of the Smaller Businesses Group of T.A.C.
  • Mr. H. B. Grice, Director, Tobacco Advisory Committee.

1. It was agreed that the following record of a meeting held on 3rd March, 1971, shall constitute the terms of an agreement, on health hazard warnings on packets and advertisements of cigarettes and related matters, between the Secretary of State and the Tobacco Manufacturing Industry of the United Kingdom.

Warnings on Cigarette Packets 2. It was agreed that the warning on cigarette packets should be as in the examples discussed between the Industry and the Department on 25th February, viz. "SMOKING CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH", headed "WARNING" in capitals of a type-size bolder than that used for the message, followed by the words "by H.M. Government" in upper and lower case. 3. The agreed message and warning would be shown either on both sides of the packet unframed in which case the same message would be printed on both sides or on one side only framed effectively. Individual manufacturers would be allowed to decide which presentation to use for any brand or packing.

Advertising 4. On press and poster advertisements the message would read "every packet carries a Government health warning". The area to be devoted to it would vary from 6 per cent. for large press advertisements and all posters rising to 10 per cent. as the size of the advertisement diminished. It would be printed in a colour which contrasted with the background.

Code of Practice 5. A Code of Practice would be drawn up, to prescribe detailed rules for warnings on both packets and advertisements and agreed between the Industry and the Department. If there were subsequent changes in pack design these would always be such as to fall within the SPIRIT of the agreement.

Cigarette Constituents and Research 6. A scientific Committee should be appointed, composed of scientists from the Industry and scientists and doctors appointed by the Department. The Committee would receive information related to research into use of tobacco, and substitute smoking materials, and would be at liberty to make information available to properly accedited researchers on a confidential basis. The Department would be ready, through the Committee, to assist the Industry to develop acceptable ways of monitoring the safety of the ingredients in smoking products. 7. It was agreed that details of the constituents of each brand of cigarette would be supplied to an authority to be determined; and agreed also in principle that information on tar and nicotine should be published if the Secretary of State so decided. The Scientific Committee referred to above would give consideration to the appropriate receiving authority (this might in fact be the Scientitle Committee itself) and would advise what should be published and how.

Further Measures 8. The Secretary of State told the Industry representatives that it was his intention, when he announced the agreement with them, also to detail other action which he proposed to take. He referred to the interdepartmental study which had been announced by the Prime Minister, and said that the Government would await that, and would see what effect the voluntary agreement would have on smoking habits, before considering whether further measures, and if so what measures, would be necessary. He did not envisage that these would involve the imposition of further requirements on the manufacturers, directed at the health hazards of smoking, before the end of 1972, but he agreed that in any case should the Government decide that further measures within the control of the manufacturers were necessary at any time, they would first discuss these with the industry, with a view to seeing whether these could be implemented by voluntary agreement.