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ASH Daily News

11 November 2003

HEADLINES

BAT / BA bosses prove controversial
Imperial Tobacco boss to give evidence in McTear case
Smoke-ban poll shows publicans lack support

FULL TEXT


BAT / BA bosses prove controversial

There is widespread coverage in the press of news that chief executive of BAT Martin Broughton is to leave the tobacco company to take up chairmanship of British Airways.

But the Guardian reports that MPs and anti-smoking groups have protested at the Martin Broughton's successor at the tobacco company. Paul Adams, at present the managing director at BAT will fill the gap when Martin Broughton moves to BA next year.

Adams, was a top marketing figure in the Asia during the eight years since 1991 when controversial tactics were used to boost sales - including deals with smugglers.

Files submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry include a series of documents held by Mr Adams which refer to illegal trade conducted under a series of euphemisms such as "transit" and "GT", or general trade.

One memo held by Mr Adams - which was included in files released to investigators by BAT - reports that "unofficial channels" offer the best prospects for growth in China.

Deborah Arnott, director of ASH, said: "Paul Adams is from the same stable as Broughton. We would have hoped that BAT would have moved on, but that doesn't seem to be the case."

Broughton is a highly controversial figure who himself has been accused of allowing BAT executives to encourage cigarette smuggling over the past decade.

Commenting on Broughton's move to British Airways, David Hinchliffe, chair of the cross party Health Select Committee said: "In view of BAT's record, it is disappointing that he's been appointed to British Airways. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about BAT's conduct and we're still awaiting the outcome of the DTI's inquiry [into BAT's involvement in cigarette smuggling].

Arch rival of BA, Virgin Atlantic, welcomed Mr Broughton as the new head of BA. A spokesman for Virgin said: We wish him luck. He's going to need it."

Full Guardian article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ba/story/0,13772,1082269,00.html
Source: The Guardian, The Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Independent, 11 November 2003



Imperial Tobacco boss to give evidence in McTear case

The multi-millionaire boss of one of the world's biggest tobacco firms is to be asked in a Scottish court if he believes smoking kills.
Gareth Davis, chief executive of corporate giant Imperial Tobacco, has been cited to appear at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by Ayrshire widow Margaret McTear.

Mrs McTear's late husband Alfred died from lung cancer aged 48. His wife is suing Imperial Tobacco, maker of her husband's favourite cigarettes, for £500,000, claiming it failed to warn of the perils.

Her legal team has called Mr Davis, ranked in the top 30 most powerful company directors in Britain, to the stand and tomorrow will ask him whether he still believes there is no link between smoking and lung cancer.

Mrs McTear's Glasgow-based solicitor Cameron Fyfe, of Ross Harper, said: "We cannot predict what he'll say but if he concedes there is a link it will be a massive boost to our case."

Mrs McTear, a cleaner from Beith, has spent 11 years fighting for her legal battle for compensation to be heard.

It is the first time a claim for damages has been brought against cigarette manufacturers in the UK.

An Imperial Tobacco spokesman said he was unable to comment on Mr Davis' court appearance but added: "We have steadfastly claimed we believe this case is speculative, that our defence is robust and have maintained the proper place to discuss any issues around this case is in the courtroom."

Mr Davis, 53, has worked for Imperial Tobacco since 1972, when he was 22. He earned £1.6million last year.

Summarised transcripts of today's proceedings will be available in due course on ASH Scotlands website:
http://www.ashscotland.org.uk/press/newsLatest.asp
See related ASH press release:
http://www.ash.org.uk/html/press/031111.html
Source: Glasgow Evening Times, 11 November 2003



Smoke-ban poll shows publicans lack support

The Irish Independent reports that more than eight in 10 people believe publicans should comply with the smoking ban.

According the poll by MRBI, commissioned by the Office of Tobacco Control, found that 81 percent of the public were in favour of the publicans imposing the ban while 15 percent were against and 4 percent did not know.

Among smokers, 61 percent say publicans should follow the law while 30 percent - representing the 8 percent of the overall population - back the publicans in their non-cooperation stand.

A spokesman for the Office of Tobacco Control said: "This survey shows that there is overwhelming public support for the law. It also tends to support the view that this measure to provide people with a safe, clean, healthy environment, will, to a considerable extent, be self enforcing.

But the Vintners Federation of Ireland, said the publicans will continue their opposition to the ban, arguing that the results of the survey depend on the questions asked.

The Vintners have not ruled out a legal challenge to the law.

Source: Irish Independent, 5 November 2003

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