[Intl-tobacco] UK MPs to produce report on BAT, inquiry may follow (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

UK MPs to produce report on BAT, inquiry may follow
Source: Reuters, Tuesday, 6/13/00

Tuesday June 13, 1:06 pm Eastern Time

LONDON, June 13 (Reuters) - A cross-party group of British MPs will
publish a long-awaited report on Wednesday into the activities of British
American Tobacco (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BATS.L) which could lead
to a full government inquiry.

In February, parliament's Health Select Committee heard allegations from
an anti-smoking group and an investigative journalist that the tobacco
corporation had links to a major cigarette smuggling conspiracy.

BAT executives hotly denied the charges. The company acknowledged
smuggling may have taken place in certain markets but insisted that if it
did, it was without company backing.

A committee official said the report would be released at 11 A.M. (1000
Gmt).

A source close to the investigation said the MPs would press Trade and
Industry Secretary Stephen Byers to launch a full-scale inquiry.

Officials at the DTI said a decision would be made only after the report
had been studied in detail.

Byers could use powers under the Companies Act to launch a probe of BAT's
accounts and to grill its staff under oath.