§ 49. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest information on the effects of cigarette smoking on health; and what tests have been carried out on the effects of filtration of cigarette smoke.
§ Sir K. JosephEvidence of the damaging effects of cigarette smoking on health is cumulative. My Chief Medical Officer has repeatedly drawn attention to the dangers in his annual reports; and within the last few months we have had the second report on smoking and health of the Royal College of Physicians—which itself contains extensive references to other published works on this subject.
On the second part of the Question, experimental work on the filtration of cigarette smoke is being carried out—mainly in the United States, but some has also been done in this country. I understand that results suggest that filters may have some effect in reducing the danger and research is continuing.