How Marlboro income paid for Commons launch of tobacco review

Launch funds: Philip Morris’ Marlboro cigarettes. Photograph: Paul Sakuma/AP

The chairman of an influential Home of Commons decide on committee investigating the tobacco trade hosted a parliamentary reception funded by a cigarette giant, the Observer has established.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee (HASC), held a reception to launch a report funded by Marlboro manufacturer Philip Morris Global (PMI) which warns that plain packets for cigarettes will motivate smuggling, an argument described by wellness campaigners as a scare tactic to derail an initiative that will make smoking less desirable to youthful men and women.

Vaz has spoken in parliament on plain packaging, suggesting smuggling presently expenses the Treasury a lot more than £2bn a year – a line promoted by the industry. He was amid 72 MPs who signed a letter to Jeremy Hunt, the wellness secretary, saying that plain packaging will increase the illicit trade in cigarettes.

Earlier this yr he wrote to the prime minister urging him not to attain a decision on plain packaging until finally his committee had reported on its inquiry into tobacco smuggling. Many of the claims suggesting the introduction of plain packaging will encourage smuggling stem from a report, The Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in the United Kingdom, which was launched by Vaz in January 2013 at a reception for 100 influential guests in parliament’s Terrace Pavilion.

The event was attended by MPs and members of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Treasury, the Severe Organised Crime Agency, Border Force and Trading Specifications. The report by Transcrime, a thinktank, was sent to each MP. A week right after the reception, Vaz announced that his committee was to investigate tobacco smuggling.

His determination to launch the inquiry into tobacco smuggling so soon after hosting a tobacco sector event has been condemned by health campaigners. Below Globe Overall health Organisation suggestions, signed up to by Britain, politicians involved in policies that could have an affect on cigarette companies ought to “establish measures to limit interactions with the tobacco business and make certain the transparency of individuals interactions that arise”.

“Mr Vaz ought to not place the interests of tobacco firms above people of his constituents, the bulk of whom support the introduction of plain packaging,” mentioned Deborah Arnott, chief executive of overall health charity Ash.

On 24 February this yr, as the government-commissioned Chantler report into plain packaging was finished, Vaz wrote to the prime minister: “I am writing to ask that no selection on the introduction of plain packaging be taken until finally the committee has finished its inquiry and the government and the Residence has had the advantage of our report.”

Arnott stated it was tough “to comprehend” why Vaz would publish such a letter that some MPs on the HASC stated they did not know had been sent in their name. “This seems to be like a last-minute try to cease standardised packaging by the back door,” Arnott mentioned.

Transcrime strongly rejects claims that its study is compromised by tobacco money. It says its perform is at all times independent. PMI says it did not see the analysis until it was published, and insisted that there was total disclosure that it had funded the report and the parliamentary reception.

“As a concerned stakeholder in the fight against the illicit trade in tobacco, Philip Morris Ltd paid for the refreshments and reception fees for this occasion,” a firm spokesman mentioned. “In line with our inner protocols, we acknowledged this on the invitation to the occasion and the backdrops at the occasion. Our funding for the analysis itself is acknowledged by Transcrime in the report.”

Vaz explained that it was the practice “to publish to acceptable ministers if we are conducting an inquiry into a subject and a government choice is imminent, to ask the government to wait till HASC publishes its report.” He mentioned committee members received copies of all letters and replies sent by him. And he rejected tips he was pro-tobacco. “I do not assistance any line from any group or organisation,” Vaz stated.

Any delay in the introduction of plain packaging would be welcome information for the tobacco market. Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco and British American Tobacco have hired companies to acquire signatures from the public to oppose the initiative. According to the EU lobbying register, all 3 organizations have considerably enhanced their spending on lobbying in the last two many years as they have sought to derail moves to introduce plain packaging.

How Marlboro income paid for Commons launch of tobacco review