§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the full page advertisement for cigarette smokers to choose brands which have a proportion of synthetic tobacco, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent. South, is in contravention of the health warning agreement with the tobacco industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe present code of practice relating to the labelling of cigarette packs and related advertisements stipulates that cigarette advertisements should carry a reference to the Government warning that appears on the packet. The cur-rept interpretation of the present code by the ASA is to the effect that an advertisement for an ingredient of cigarettes is not covered by the present code. There was thus no obligation for the advertisement my hon. Friend sent me to carry a reference to the warning. We do not regard the present position as satisfactory, and my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a statement shortly on advertisements for tobacco substitutes.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in pursuance of his departmental monitoring of his agreement on sales promotion of cigarettes, he will investigate the upsurge of advertising for smokers to choose brands which are still likely to cause lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, although the inclusion of a synthetic fibre equates these products with low-tar tobacco cigarettes.
§ Mr. MoyleIn the agreement announced in my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend on 8th March—[Vol. 927, c.463–5]—the tobacco industry undertook to devote a disproportionate amount of advertising to cigarettes in the lower tar groups. Increased advertising 621W expenditure on brands in those groups would not, therefore, warrant an investigation, although we shall watch trends carefully. Evidence indicates that all cigarettes, with and without tobacco substitutes, cause debilitating and lethal diseases, but our policy is that those who must smoke cigarettes should be encouraged to smoke the less harmful lower tar products.