HC Deb 17 January 1977 vol 924 c14W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimate of the number of lives which would be saved and the number of people who would avoid disablement if smoking were made illegal.

Mr. Moyle

It is estimated that over 50,000 premature deaths a year in the United Kingdom are attributed to smoking. The amount of suffering and ill-health which would be avoided by people ceasing to smoke is difficult to quantify in detail.