ASH Daily News for 27/10/2004
HEADLINES
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ASH Daily News
27 October 2004
HEADLINES
Tobacco firm lobbied Blair and gained secret access
BAT downplays UK smoking ban
Ireland: Smokers withdraw damages claims against tobacco companies
Ireland: Smoke ban clampdown in pubs as winter bites
FULL TEXT
Tobacco firm lobbied Blair and gained secret access
Documents obtained by the Guardian revealed that the world's second
biggest tobacco company, British American Tobacco (BAT) secretly lobbied
Tony Blair and a cabinet minister over allegations that the company was
colluding with criminals.
The head of BAT, Martin Broughton gained access to the Prime Minister at
a private breakfast, followed by an equally covert meeting with the then
trade secretary Stephen Buyers.
Two former senior Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials on
BAT's payroll were also used to approach their former departmental
colleagues.
Following the behind-the scenes meeting, Mr Byers' own plan for an
inquiry, which could have produced a highly critical report, was
dropped. A diluted inquiry was substituted in its place and it was
conducted in secret. The results were "buried" for almost four years. It
then emerged that no action would be taken.
Source: Guardian, 27 October 2004
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1336810,00.html
Read the documents:
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/images/0,9069,1336494,00.html
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/images/0,9069,1336491,00.html
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Politics/documents/2004/10/26/DTI_
1.pdf
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/images/0,9069,1336496,00.html
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/images/0,9069,1336497,00.html
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/images/0,9069,1336499,00.html
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/images/0,9069,1336500,00.html
BAT downplays UK smoking ban
British American Tobacco said that any move to ban smoking in pubs would
have a "negligible" effect on its bottom line, as the world's
second-biggest cigarette maker surpassed forecasts with a 13.5 per cent
rise in third-quarter profits.
BAT was doubtful the Government would follow the Irish Republic by
introducing a total ban on smoking in pubs. But it said that its small
presence in Britain meant that it could absorb any such changes.
Source: The Times, Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Financial Times, 27
October 2004
Link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,172-1330139,00.html
Ireland: Smokers withdraw damages claims against tobacco companies
More than 100 smokers have abandoned claims against tobacco companies
for damages following an unsuccessful High Court case earlier this year.
At one stage Dublin solicitors Ward and Fitzpatrick and leading US
tobacco litigator Steve Berman, were seeking to enter an alliance with
the State as part of a major action against the tobacco industry.
However, the Government declined the offer.
Professor Luke Clancy of ASH said he was dismayed to learn that the
cases had been dropped, but believed they may have had a greater chance
if they had been supported by the State.
"I always worry for an individual who takes an action against a major
industry. They are using top solicitors and a top barrister and money is
no object."
Source: Irish Times, 23 October 2004
Ireland: Smoke ban clampdown in pubs as winter bites
Smokers attempting a crafty puff inside pubs, rather than braving the
elements outside are to be targeted in a new round of inspections by
health board officers, the Irish Independent reports.
Valerie Robinson of the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) said: "The
office is going to concentrate its efforts coming into winter. We
realise it's a hard time for smokers but this is a serious issue."
A Department of Health survey indicated that 82 percent of people backed
the Smoke Free at work measure and 70 percent of people said they had
experienced an improvement in pubs as a result of the ban.
Source: Irish Independent, 18 October 2004
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ASH
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