Mr. Ronald W. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to monitor the increase in numbers of female smokers suffering from lung cancer, having regard to the fact that women began taking up smoking in large numbers after 1945.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe proportion of women who are smokers has remained relatively constant since the 1940s, though their consumption of cigarettes has increased. Monitoring of the incidence of women suffering from lung cancer is already carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. It is not possible, however, to say how many of these women are smokers.
Mr. Ronald W. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the estimated spending on smoking-related health care annually for the years 1975 to 1981.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) on 26 January.—[Vol. 16, c.337.]
Mr. Ronald W. Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if his Department has studied the findings of Surgeon General C. Everett Koop that side-stream smoke emitted into the air from a smouldering cigarette sometimes includes carcinogens in higher concentration than those inhaled directly by a smoker; and if any similar studies have been undertaken in the United Kingdom;
(2) if his Department has studied the findings of Surgeon General C. Everett Koop relating to smoking and its effects on health and as a factor in the cause of death; and if he will correlate that data with the United Kingdom experience and publish a report.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergA copy of the Surgeon General's latest report has been ordered and will be studied when it is received.