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Health Select Committee tobacco hearing - BAT goes head-to-head with ASH over smuggling

ASH and British American Tobacco (BAT) will clash over tobacco smuggling on 16th February in front of the Commons Health Select Committee. The tobacco giant says it has done no wrong, ASH will present evidence to the contrary to show how BAT operated in illegal markets in Asia and Latin America. Appearing before the Committee:

· Martin Broughton - Chairman of BAT
· Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP - former Chancellor and Deputy Chairman of BAT
· Clive Bates - Director, ASH. ASH has undertaken extensive research of BAT's smuggling-related internal documents and has published these on the internet.
· Duncan Campbell - International Consortium of Investigative Journalists - author of in-depth reports on BAT's involvement in smuggling in Asia and Latin America

Unusually, the Committee will hear from both sides simultaneously, so there will be an opportunity for the evidence to be tested in a 'debate' format. Evidence from organisations with substantially differing views is usually taken sequentially.

ASH and Mr. Campbell have also provided damning written evidence of the company's involvement in tobacco smuggling based on BAT's internal documents. ASH will set out exactly how BAT operated its business in illegal channels

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