Health Bill [HL]

I think that it is a very good amendment. We have been dealing with this problem piecemeal over a long period. I think that the tobacco manufacturers and others who are concerned with the sale of tobacco should know where they are going. A 10-year programme would help those organisations and would necessitate a thorough examination into all the claims that are made about tobacco, for and against. For example, we could establish what information was accurate and what information was not, and what science was good and what science was junk. There is quite a bit of junk science around the tobacco industry. We would have to consult all those people, including tobacco manufacturers and purveyors of tobacco, about what would happen to them and what they could do to help, and of course we would also have to consult the medical profession and statistical organisations. I think that we should also look at any benefits that there might be. I have to tell the Committee that, when I was very young and suffered from a bit of constipation, I went to see the doctor, who said, "What you should do is sit on the lavatory and smoke a cigarette. That would help a lot". However, that was a long time ago and I am still here. As I said, we should then be able to test all sorts of assertions. In relation to nicotine patches, I have a friend of 85 who has been smoking all her life. She thought that she ought to give it up but found it difficult and she started using nicotine patches. Now, she is addicted to the patches. Some people find it very difficult indeed. There are all sorts of things about tobacco which we should know, and I think that the amendment would provide the opportunity to find out about them. The tobacco manufacturers would not worry about this—I think that they would be pleased. There has been some criticism of tobacco manufacturers. There seems to be some idea that reducing, and eventually eliminating, the smoking of cigarettes will hurt BAT. It will not be hurt by that at all. It will sell cigarettes to people in Africa, China and what have you. It now sells so many products that it will make no difference at all to that company. I welcome the amendment and hope that the Government will accept it.