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The Times has found that lobbying companies are providing services or funding to at least 40 All Party Parliamentary Groups. Among those providing “secretariat services” is Central Lobby Consultants (CLC), which supports the parliamentary corporate responsibility group, whose aim is to “promote debate and understanding of corporate responsibility.” The group’s entry on the parliamentary register does not say who provides funding to CLC to work with the group.
However, the group’s website reveals that it is funded by “associate members” paying membership subscriptions. These include three multinational tobacco companies, two defence contractors, several privatised water utilities and a gambling firm. A CLC spokesman confirmed that its work was funded by membership fees alone. It said that an explanation of its work appeared on the group’s website and that it did not lobby for members of the group. There is no suggestion that the company has broken any rules.
The parliamentary group on energy costs lists Royal Public Affairs, another lobbying company, as its secretariat. The company does not declare on the group’s registry page who funds it. Royal also provides secretariat services to the group on a fit and healthy childhood but does not declare how this is paid.
MPs are joining as many as 50 parliamentary groups each. The Romford MP Andrew Rosindell chairs 23, and he is a member of 46 groups in total and has put numerous written questions to ministers related to the groups he heads. Rosindell has enjoyed trips to Gibraltar worth thousands of pounds, according to his register of interests, while being vice-chairman of the parliamentary group for the territory.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of any named politician.
Source: The Times, 3 June 2021
See also: The Times - “Dirty secret” gives lobbyists access to the heart of Westminster
The Times - Lobbyists can stroll straight into parliament
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Ministers have ruled out banning outdoor smoking as several councils make outdoor seating areas smokefree. The Government says it is “on track” to become a “smoke-free country” by 2030 - which involves whittling down the UK’s smokers to 5%, and a tobacco control plan is being published later this year.
Newcastle City Council, Manchester City Council and Durham County Council have all prohibited smoking on pavements where outdoor hospitality venues have tables. Northumberland County Council and North Tyneside Council have also made outdoor hospitality seating smokefree. And Gateshead Council does not have an official policy in place, but all licences state pavement cafes must be smokefree. Oxfordshire County Council is also considering banning smoking from outdoor restaurants as part of a major strategy to make the county smokefree by 2025.
Indoor smoking in pubs is already banned, and landlords serving food also have the power to disallow cigarettes.
A government spokesperson said: “Smoking rates are at record low levels in the UK, and we are on track to deliver on our ambition to become a smoke-free country by 2030. We are making huge progress, but there is further to go. While we will not ban outdoor smoking, we are determined to address the damaging health implications of smoking, and we are backing this commitment up with substantial investment.”
Source: The Sun, 3 June 2021
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Justice Minister Naomi Long has praised the vigilance of Border Force staff as about 15 million cigarettes and 4.44 tonnes of tobacco were seized in two separate operations. Officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) intercepted the smuggling attempts. The goods are believed to be worth an estimated £7.24 million in lost duty and taxes.
In the first operation, the suspected illicit tobacco was transported from Rotterdam (Germany) to Belfast. The goods were loaded in a container marked “Euro Bins Polyester” and were destined for an address in County Down.
In the second operation, over 15 million cigarettes were detected at Belfast Docks after two containers, appearing to be wooden furniture, arrived from Vietnam via Rotterdam, destined for an address in Belfast. Both seizures were referred to HMRC for further investigation.
Ms Long urged people “not to purchase such goods and play a part in disrupting organised criminality by reporting any suspicious activity to the PSNI. We all need to work together to prevent criminals profiting from their illegal activities and to bring to justice those who continue to wreak havoc across our communities.”
Source: BBC, 2 June 2021
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British American Tobacco (BAT), which trades in Ireland as PJ Carroll, has accused the Republic’s tobacco regulator of “inaction” for failing to rein in its commercial rivals over allegations that some are breaching the ban on menthol, introduced across the European Union and the UK on 20 May 2020.
The market in the Republic for the flavoured cigarettes was worth up to €250 million before the ban came into force last May, and many tobacco companies sought to retain their share with substitutes.
Japan Tobacco International, for example, launched Silk Cut Choice Green, which it admitted still contained traces of menthol. But it claims it is in compliance with rules because they don’t taste or smell of menthol. Philip Morris, the maker of Marlboro, also launched a new brand targeted at smokers of its old Marlboro Green, but insists the new product is legal and menthol-free.
Simon Harris, who was minister for health until last July, has previously accused tobacco companies of “undermining” the ban. Despite its year-long investigation, the HSE’s Tobacco Control Office has yet to issue any findings.
Irish authorities have previously suggested the issue needs to be dealt with at the European level, while the European Commission has suggested that national governments have their own powers to force products off the shelves.
Source: Irish Times, 4 June 2021
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As has been widely reported this week, Oxfordshire County Council has published a new Tobacco Control Strategy to reduce the prevalence of smoking in the county to below 5% by 2025.
There are four main areas the strategy will target to reduce the number of smokers in the county, which include:
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Preventing young people from starting to smoke.
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Creating more smokefree spaces.
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Enforcing regulations on tobacco, including doing more to stop sales of illicit tobacco, and
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Supporting existing smokers to quit.
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Following calls for the introduction of smokefree pavement licenses after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions for outside eating and drinking areas, this 2020 ASH briefing, designed for local authorities, provides information on how local authorities can designate pavement licences smokefree and why this is an essential public health measure.
Examples of councils that have already introduced a Smokefree condition include North Tyneside, Newcastle, Northumberland County Council, Durham, and the City of Manchester.
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