Smoking

Lord Faulkner of Worcester Excerpts
Thursday 25th January 2024

(3 months, 1 week ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Faulkner of Worcester Portrait Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Lab)
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My Lords, many Members of your Lordships’ House have received lobbying from tobacco companies over the years. Is the Minister aware that the Daily Telegraph reported last week that Philip Morris had threatened legal action against the Government over the consultation to which he referred in his first Answer. Can the Minister give an assurance that, if this lobbying is undertaken by tobacco companies, the Government will ignore it and go ahead with their very sensible and welcome plans?

Lord Markham Portrait Lord Markham (Con)
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Yes, I am aware of the moves, and I am sure there will be many more. I was advised that it was a fairly unusual legal challenge on consultation, which I believe was withdrawn quite quickly. Yes, there will be opposition, but we are determined, because of the importance of what we are trying to do.