Tobacco firms lobby MSPs to fight smoking curbs (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Tobacco firms lobby MSPs to fight smoking curbs
by Kenny Farquharson / Scottish Political Editor
Source: Times Of London, Sunday, 9/5/99

BRITAIN'S powerful tobacco industry is preparing to lobby the Scottish
parliament in an attempt to prevent the introduction of tight restrictions
on smoking in public places.

Tobacco industry executives admit they are worried that proposed curbs on
smokers in Scotland's pubs and restaurants could pave the way for measures
across Britain, threatening a market worth almost £13 billion a year.

They intend to recruit sympathetic MSPs and other influential public
figures and put pressure on the Scottish executive to abort the proposals.

John Carlisle, the right-wing former Tory MP who is spokesman for the
Tobacco Manufacturers' Association, said that the industry was ready "to
lobby unashamedly" to limit any anti-smoking moves by Holyrood.

"We recognise that with measures such as the poll tax, Scotland has in the
past been used as a sounding board for controversial issues by the
Westminster government," he said. "We are very conscious that a move there
could be the frontrunner for Westminster."

The association has retained a Scottish lobbying firm, McGrigor Donald, to
"be the industry's eyes and ears" north of the Border.

David Swan, the association's chief executive, will this week meet
Scottish executive civil servants in Edinburgh to discuss the industry's
concerns. Next month the cigarette companies will intensify their efforts
and include direct lobbying of MSPs and Scottish opinion-formers. Key MSPs
and journalists have been invited to a dinner at the Edinburgh Sheraton to
be hosted by Carlisle.

The lobbying offensive will be Holyrood's first brush with big business
interests, and is being seen by many anti-smoking MSPs as the first
serious test of the parliament's resolve in the face of organised
corporate opposition.

Firmly in the sights of the association is Hugh Henry, who is proposing a
private member's bill restricting smoking in bars, restaurants and other
public places.

Henry, Labour MSP for Paisley South, is trying to play down reports that
he wants a total ban on smoking in many public places. But he is confident
he can win the backing of the health committee and parliament for some
form of ground-breaking legislation that will ensure smoke-free
environments for non-smokers.

Henry has already written to Margaret Smith, convener of the health
committee, asking for the issue to be tabled. A complete ban in pubs and
restaurants has been backed already by Sir David Carter, Scotland's chief
medical officer.

Carter announced last month that cancer had overtaken heart disease as
Scotland's biggest killer and said: "Too many of us are smoking, too many
of us are dying as a consequence and too many of our children are growing
up with the cards stacked against them."

Last week Susan Deacon, the health minister, welcomed the smoking debate,
although she fell short of endorsing Henry's views.

Responding to news of the tobacco association's lobbying strategy, Henry
said: "I am not surprised the industry is taking these steps. There are
vast profits involved. It is what I would expect from an organisation
whose priority is private profit, not public health."

Association members include Imperial Tobacco, Gallaher and Rothmans.
Global giants with associate membership include British American Tobacco,
Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds and Japan Tobacco. Britain's 15m smokers buy 70
billion cigarettes a year.

In addition to the Henry bill, the industry is also determined to make its
views known on the government's white paper, Smoking Kills, which says
smoking is one of Scotland's most pressing health concerns.