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ASH Daily news for 22 November 2011

HEADLINES

  • Tobacco firm gave thousands of pounds worth of hospitality to nine MPs who opposed smoking bill

    MPs who received thousands of pounds worth of hospitality from one of the world’s largest tobacco companies opposed a bill to ban smoking in cars.

    The parliamentary register of members’ interests shows Japan Tobacco International, which produces Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut and Camel cigarettes, spent £23,000 entertaining 20 MPs in the past six months.

    Almost half of them voted against a Private Member’s Bill banning smoking in cars carrying children.
    The MP behind the Bill, Labour’s Alex Cunningham, has asked Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon to investigate.

    In May, seven Tory MPs accepted tickets from JTI to the Chelsea Flower Show, costing at least £1,100 each for themselves plus a guest.Less than a month later they voted against the Bill, which passed the first stage of the parliamentary process by 78 votes to 66 on June 22.

    The seven were Therese Coffey, Richard Ottaway, Christopher Pincher, Alun Cairns, Stephen Metcalfe, Laurence Robertson and Michael Ellis.

    In August Labour MP Simon Danczuk and Tory Andrew Rosindell watched the England versus India Test match at the Oval courtesy of JTI. They had also voted against the anti-smoking Bill.

    Mr Danczuk received hospitality to the value of £1,389 and Mr Rosindell was given £1,447 worth. Both attended the game with a guest.

    Source: Daily Mail - 22 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/voZcmt

  • Anger as Shropshire Council invests in tobacco

    Shropshire Council has invested £6.4 million of taxpayers’ cash in tobacco firms, it was revealed today.

    Council bosses have used the money from pension pots to invest in a number of cigarette stocks. But the move has been criticised by anti-smoking campaigners.

    However, council chiefs today insisted they would not withdraw the investment. It follows a question raised at a recent meeting by Ludlow East county councillor Tracy Huffer.

    Justin Bridges, treasury and pensions service manager, today said: “Shropshire County Pension Fund has taken legal advice on the acceptability of the fund investment in tobacco stocks and as a result of this, has no plans to withdraw the investment in the future unless the regulatory environment changes through regulatory amendment or successful legal challenge.”

    But Martin Dockrell, Director of Policy and Research at ASH, said the council had a number of other options and urged them to think again.

    He said: “The fact is there is no legal obligation for the council to invest in tobacco companies. They can choose not to.

    “Councils have to work under tight constraints when investing. But they can have the presumption to stay clear of tobacco companies.”

    Source: Shropshire Star - 21 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/soaqyY

  • Coventry to ban smoking outdoors

    Coventry could be among the first UK cities to ban smoking outdoors.

    The council is considering plans to create a smoke-free square in Millennium Place in the city centre.

    It would stop smokers lighting up there during the Olympic and Paralympics Games next summer.

    The temporary ban has been proposed by Coventry’s Smokefree Alliance to protect children from harmful secondhand smoke while they watch the Games on the big screen.

    Source: Coventry Telegraph, 21 November 2010
    Link: http://bit.ly/uS3f3e

  • Ireland: Woman killed when oxygen tank blew up as she lit cigarette

    A woman was probably lighting a cigarette when her oxygen supply blew up in her face, an inquest has heard.

    A life-long smoker, Mary Kearney (65) had been taking oxygen for three years having developed severe emphysema.

    The court heard that it was probable that Mrs Kearney had been trying to light a cigarette at the time of the incident.

    Her son John Kearney Jr said that his mother had been vigilant about ensuring that nobody smoked around her since she began taking oxygen.

    However, she had been very stressed following the death of her brother and was arranging his funeral. His mother may not have been in her right mind at the time, he said.

    Source: Independent.ie - 22 November 2011
    Link: http://bit.ly/tdMp7Z

  • Smoking ban for Guernsey prison visitors

    A smoking ban for visitors to Guernsey's prison, which is aimed at protecting visitors and staff from secondary smoke inhalation, has begun.

    Prisoners may still smoke in their cells, but visitors must stop smoking before approaching the building.

    Smoking will also be banned around the island's hospitals from January 2012.

    Source: BBC News - 21 November 2011
    Link: http://bbc.in/sbUJOC

  • Philip Morris sues Australian government over tobacco packaging

    Tobacco giant Philip Morris launched legal action against Australia's government, less than an hour after parliament passed legislation banning all logos from cigarette packages.

    Nicola Roxon, the health and ageing minister, called the new law "an example for the world to follow".

    The legislation, which takes effect in December 2012, bans the use of logos and brand imagery on cigarette packages, instead requiring that brand names be printed in a small, uniform font on dull olive green packets – a colour the government believes consumers will hate.

    Cigarette packs will also include larger health warnings with graphic pictures of the negative health effects of smoking.

    Tobacco companies have fought the legislation and threatened legal action since the government first announced its plan last year.

    Philip Morris Asia, which is based in Hong Kong, quickly served a legal notice of arbitration under an investment treaty that Hong Kong has with Australia. The company said it also intends to pursue claims under Australian law.

    "We are left with no option," Anne Edwards, a spokesman for Philip Morris Asia, said in a statement.

    "The government has passed this legislation despite being unable to demonstrate that it will be effective at reducing smoking and has ignored the widespread concerns raised in Australia and internationally regarding the serious legal issues associated with plain packaging."

    Ms Roxon called passage of the law a momentous event in Australian public health history.
    "Plain packaging means that the glamour is gone from smoking and cigarettes are now exposed for what they are: killer products that destroy thousands of Australian families," she said.

    Source: The Telegraph - 21 November 2011
    Link: http://tgr.ph/tUf7q9