§ 31. Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of deaths and diseases annually caused by cigarette smoking.
§ Mr. John PattenThe figure of "not less than 100,000" is suggested in the 4th report of the Royal College of Physicians and refers to deaths caused by smoking at all ages. It is specifically stated not to be comparable with the mortality figures in the college's previous reports, from which an estimate of at least 50,000 early deaths per year was derived. The full extent of morbidity from smoking-related diseases is not known but is recognised to be heavy.