HC Deb 03 November 1983 vol 47 cc463-4W
Mrs. Renee Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ban the use of the cigarette filter, the name of which has been supplied to him, by British cigarette manufacturers and the import of American cigarettes with this filter.

Mr. John Patten

No. The Department is aware of the conflicting views of the analysts in the countries in which cigarettes containing the filter in question are marketed and, together with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, is examining whether the standard procedures for testing cigarettes should be modified in any way.