Government commits to protect public health policy from tobacco industry interference
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The Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care, Jo
Churchill MP, today responded in an adjournment debate in
parliament [1] to recent revelations that the world’s biggest
tobacco manufacturer is attempting to subvert the UK Government’s
tobacco policy. The Chairman of the All Party Group on Smoking and
Health, Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, tabled the debate after
publication of leaked documents were published showing that PMI –
the maker of Marlboro cigarettes – has...Request free trial
The Minister for Prevention, Public Health
and Primary Care, Jo Churchill MP, today responded in an
adjournment debate in parliament [1] to recent revelations that the
world’s biggest tobacco manufacturer is attempting to subvert the
UK Government’s tobacco policy.
The Chairman of the All Party Group on Smoking and Health, Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, tabled the debate after publication of leaked documents were published showing that PMI – the maker of Marlboro cigarettes – has been attempting to buy influence with Government. PMI has proposed the setting up of a “Tobacco Transition Fund” worth £1 billion over 10 years in return for the Government relaxing the complete advertising ban on heated tobacco products and putting in place a regulatory framework for such products designed by the company itself. [2][3] [4] PMI’s proposals would allow PMI to market its IQOS tobacco product in cinemas, online and at point of sale, something illegal under current legislation.[5] Bob Blackman MP asked the Minister to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to protecting public health from the commercial and vested interests of tobacco companies in line with the UK’s obligation to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its guidelines.[6] [7] Responding Jo Churchill, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care said: “In answer to my honorable friend’s direct question we will absolutely remain firmly committed to the Convention and importantly Article 5.3 during the transition period and beyond.” (16.29.46-16.30.00) “I am very proud that in the first Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index published last year we were rated number one for the work that we do to protect public health policy from tobacco companies, but I take on board that we need to continue on that path.” (16.30.20-16.30.39) Bob Blackman MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health responded: “The UK was recently independently assessed as being the most successful country in the world in resisting tobacco industry interference. [8] I’m delighted by the Government’s confirmation that it will continue to ensure that tobacco companies have no place in shaping public health policy.” “I am pleased that the Minister also confirmed that its response to the Prevention Green Paper consultation will be published shortly. In the Prevention Green paper the Government promised to consider how tobacco manufacturers could be made to fund tobacco control measures, in line with the polluter pays approach in place in the US. This would raise a fixed sum from tobacco manufacturers, without in return giving them a seat at the table to influence tobacco policy.” PMI’s proposals for a “Tobacco Transition Fund” in partnership with the industry have already been put to parliament in a 10-minute rule bill tabled by former MP Kevin Barron in the last parliament.[9] Kevin, a longstanding supporter of tobacco control, admitted to the Guardian that he had had discussions with PMI before tabling the Bill, that he now supported partnering with the industry, and had spoken to Ministers about the proposals.[2] Alex Cunningham MP, vice-chair of the APPG said, ““Kevin was the greatest parliamentary campaigner against the tobacco industry for nearly all his 36 years as an MP so I was really concerned that he was prepared to work with a tobacco company - albeit with the best of intentions - to change the law. Whilst some people may have been convinced that PMI has been reborn as a public health champion, that is not the case for the Government, or the All Party Group on Smoking and Health. PMI’s attempts to whitewash its reputation are nauseating in a company which continues to promote its deadly cigarettes to children and young people whenever and wherever it can get away with it.” [2][3][10] Modelling by CRUK shows that the Government is not currently on track [11] to meet its ambition of a Smokefree (smoking rates of 5% or less) England by 2030,[12] funding is needed to help smokers quit and prevent young people from taking up smoking. The APPG [13], along with public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is calling for a Smokefree 2030 Fund to make the tobacco industry pay for the damage it does.[14] ENDS Notes to the editor: The All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health is chaired by Bob Blackman MP. The secretariat is provided by ASH. The purpose of the APPG is to monitor and discuss the health and social effects of smoking; to review potential changes in existing legislation to reduce levels of smoking; to assess the latest medical techniques to assist in smoking cessation; and to act as a resource for the group’s members on all issues relating to smoking and public health. For more information see: www.ash.org.uk/category/about-ash/all-party-parliamentary-group-on-smoking-health/ Media contacts: For more information send an email to press@ash.org.uk or ring 020 7404 0242. Out of hours contact Deborah Arnott (Chief Executive, ASH) on 07976 935 987 or Hazel Cheeseman (Director of Policy, ASH) on 077 5435 8593. References [1] Parliament Live. Adjournment: WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 5 March 2020. [2] The Guardian. Philip Morris drew up plan for £1bn tobacco transition fund. 24 February 2020. [3] Channel 4 Dispatches. The Secrets of big Tobacco: Has Philip Morris Really Given Up Smoking? 24 February 2020. [4] PMI’s leaked documents can be accessed here: PMI Smoke-Free Bill email, Tobacco Transition Fund draft outline, Proposed content for the Smoke-Free Bill. 2018. [5] Legislation Gov UK. Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 Accessed March 2020. [6] World Health Organization. Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 2003 Accessed March 2020. [7] World Health Organisation (WHO). Guidelines for implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (decision FCTC/COP3(7)). 2008 [8] Stop Tobacco Organizations and Products. Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index. 2019. [9] Hansard. House of Commons Tobacco Volume 648. 2018. [10] The Guardian. Tobacco: a deadly business. How children around the world are exposed to cigarette advertising. March 2018. [11] Cancer Intelligence Team, Cancer Research UK. Smoking prevalence projections for England, Scotland, wales and Northern Ireland based on data to 2018/19. February 2020. [12] Cabinet Office and Department of Health and Social Care. Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s – consultation document. July 2019. [13] All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health (APPG). Delivering the vision of a smokefree generation: The All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health response to ‘Prevention is better than cure’. February 2019. [14] Smokefree Action Coalition. Roadmap to a Smokefree 2030. March 2020. |