§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps his Department is taking in considering the role of anti-smoking clinics in the context of its review of long-term policies on smoking and health; and when that review is expected to be completed.
§ Sir George YoungThe Department is awaiting the findings of current research on the efficacy both of anti-smoking clinics and of other means of assisting the smoker who wishes to abandon the habit, and is considering whether further studies are required.
647WThe Department's overall review of policy on smoking and health will need to take account of the outcome of the Government's current negotiations with the tobacco industry on what should follow the existing voluntary agreement. It is not yet possible to set a date for the completion of this review.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will send a circular to individual health authorities advising them to make provision for anti-smoking clinics in their areas.
§ Sir George YoungNo. While my right hon. Friend is anxious that health authorities should do all they can to reduce the incidence of premature death and disease caused by smoking, the
Estimated total number of discharges and deaths from non-psychiatric NHS hospitals in England and Wales with a diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung. 1968–1977 (I.C.D.162.1) Year Estimated total discharges & deaths Males Females 1968 … … … … 34,900 6,300 1969 … … … … 6,900 34,000 1970 … … … … 7,200 35,400 1971 … … … … 8,100 35,100 1972 … … … … 8,600 36,400 1973 … … … … 8,600 36,300 1974 … … … … 8,900 35,400 1975 … … … … 10,000 37,300 1976 … … … … 10,800 38,200 1977* … … … … 10,300 38,100 *Unlike previous years, estimates for 1977 have been calculated using a multiplying factor of 10. Improvements in the methods of sampling and data collection have removed the need for the detailed multiplying factors calculated for earlier years. Source
Hospital In-patients Inquiry
Numbers of registrations of cancer of bronchus and lung 1968–73
[ICD 8th revision 162.1) Males Females 1968 … … … … 22,850 4,412 1969 … … … … 23,197 4,802 1970 … … … … 23,760 5,157 1971 … … … … 24,581 5,478 1972 … … … … 24,436 5,619 1973 … … … … 25,501 6,009 Notes
1. There was no change in the International Classification of Diseases (used for coding) in 1968 and exactly comparable figures are not available before 1968.
2. The table relates to registrations of cancer of bronchus and lung, which is the most detailed breakdown available in ICD 8th revision.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of treating men and women, respectively, for lung cancer during each of the past 10 years for which records are available.
648WDepartment does not have sufficient evidence of the cost-effectiveness achieved by clinics to justify advising authorities generally to provide this relatively expensive form of support for smokers who wish to give up the habit.