§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards health warnings on cigarette packets in the light of the recommendations of the Royal College of Physicians on the subject;
(2) if he will seek to have the health warnings on cigarette packets moved from the side to the front or back; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will now seek to ensure the use of the words "Danger: Cigarette Smoking causes Heart Disease, Lung Cancer and Bronchitis" instead of the current health warning on cigarette packets; and if he will make a statement;
(4) whether he will seek to ensure the use of more strongly worded health warnings on cigarette packets; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Government's policy is to ensure that the general public, and smokers in particular, are made fully aware of the serious risks to health from cigarette smoking. The latest voluntary agreement with the tobacco industry, which commenced in April, replaces the old health warning with six new and stronger messages some of which refer specifically to the main diseases linked296W with smoking: heart disease, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. The agreement also increases the space devoted to the warnings on posters and press advertisements from 15 per cent. to 17½, per cent. In formulating the warnings account was taken of views received from medical and health bodies, including the Royal College of Physicians.