HC Deb 06 November 1973 vol 863 cc147-8W
34. Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an inquiry into the effect of tobacco smoke on non-smokers in the home, at work, on public transport, and in other places.

Sir K. Joseph

No.

Dr. Stuttaford

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what experiments he is conducting into the relationship between carbon monoxide inhalation from tobacco smoke and coronary heart disease.

Sir K. Joseph

I am considering the latest evidence on the health hazards from smoking of carbon monoxide and I shall seek the advice of the Hunter Committee on this matter.

Dr. Stuttaford

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a league table for the new smoking materials; and if he will publish figures showing the quantities of tar distillate, the carbon monoxide and the nicotine content of the various types of substitute tobacco which have been submitted to the Hunter Committee for approval.

Sir K. Joseph

It is not possible to do so at this moment. Information provided by manufacturers to the Hunter Committee cannot be published without the agreement of the manufacturers and the committee. I am seeking the advice of the Hunter Committee about what information on cigarettes containing a tobacco substitute should on health grounds be made available to the public.

Dr. Stuttaford

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the carcinogenicity of the tar distillate of the new smoking matrials; and if he will publish the details of the experiments on which these figures are based.

Sir K. Joseph

Information on carcinogenicity tests for a new smoking material has been submitted to the Hunter Committee but at this stage the information must be confidential to the committee and myself.