§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has received from his Chief Medical Officer and others of his medical advisers on the subject of smoking; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Department's medical advisers have for over 20 years emphasised the serious health risks of cigarette smoking. This advice is reflected in the Government's policies which aim to discourage people from smoking or from taking up the habit. These policies are proving generally effective and we intend to continue with them.
§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his latest estimates of the current costs of smoking related diseases to the National Health Service.
§ Mr. John PattenIn 1980 the Department estimated that the annual cost to the NHS in England and Wales of diseases attributable to smoking was about £116 million at November 1979 prices. Revaluing this figure for Health Service inflation gives a current estimated cost of about £170 million.
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§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now seek to revise Government policy on smoking particularly in regard to the higher smoking rates among young women and children.
§ Mr. John PattenThe proportion of women in Great Britain who smoke cigarettes has fallen from 41 per cent. in 1972 to 33 per cent. in 1982. This reflects a reduction in the prevalence of smoking among women in all age groups. There is no evidence that smoking rates among children are increasing. However, the Government are concerned about the level of children's smoking found in an OPCS survey published in November and a number of measures are being taken to deal with the problem.
The OPCS survey is to be repeated later this year and will show what progress has been achieved.
§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current hospital admission rate; and what proportion of those so admitted are smokers and suffer from such diseases as cancer of the lung, coronary artery disease and chronic bronchitis or emphysema.
§ Mr. John PattenI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.