Ministers shut tobacco industry out
E-mail address for letter to the editor: mw.editorial@chiron.co.uk
I would be grateful if you would allow some clarification of your article “UK tobacco industry rejects plea to revive voluntary advertising ban” (MW November 4).
In March, tobacco manufacturers offered the Government the possibility of a voluntary extension to the scope for a ban on certain types of promotion and advertising in specified media. This proposal was not taken up by ministers and they made no reference to it until after the recent High Court action.
The issue of the advertising ban is now subject to the Court of Appeal.
If the Secretary of State wishes to discuss our proposal further we are ready and willing to enter into dialogue. In the meantime, we will continue to comply with the Voluntary Agreements that are still in place.
John Carlisle
Executive director, industry affairs
Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association
London SW1