§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will arrange for her Department to publish an assessment of the evidence of research to date on the risks to the health of nonsmokers of smoking by others in enclosed places, together with advice on the implications of such research for provision of non-smoking accommodation.
§ Dr. OwenA number of research papers have been published on this subject. I am advised that they provide no clear evidence to show that tobacco smoke is harmful to normally healthy nonsmokers or that a heavily tobacco-smoke laden atmosphere has other than a transient effect, though such an atmosphere may aggravate the condition of people suffering from respiratory complaints and of those who are subject to an allergic response. There is some evidence that parental smoking may increase the risk of respiratory illness of infants, particularly in their first year. Many nonsmokers find tobacco smoke unpleasant and for some it has a discomforting and even a nauseating effect. Authorities responsible for public places and public transport have in general responded to the changes in attitude towards smoking of their patrons and passengers by increasing the amount of, or providing for the first time, accommodation for non-smokers.