David Taylor: ...between the European Community, Philip Morris International and subsidiary companies; (2) what recent discussions Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have had with (a) Philip Morris International, (b) British American Tobacco, (c) Imperial Tobacco and (d) Gallaher Group plc on the status of the Memorandum of Understanding on the smuggling of tobacco products which these companies have with...
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: ...response. Finally, a complaint was received from the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) in September 2003 against British American Tobacco. The NCP first responded in October 2003 and following a dialogue between the parties, the case was withdrawn in February 2004. In addition to the above, the NCP is also...
Mike O'Brien: ...standing policy to discourage trade with, or investment in, Burma. We offer no support to companies wishing to trade with Burma or for those who want to invest there. We welcomed the announcement by British American Tobacco, the largest remaining UK investor in Burma, that it is withdrawing its investment from that country in response to my request of 2 July 2003. British companies who...
Mike O'Brien: ..., and consequently the list cannot be considered to be exhaustive or complete. The majority on the list are small companies operating in the service industry but also include multinationals such as British American Tobacco and Shell. Furthermore, many UK individuals, as opposed to companies, have businesses in The Gambia such as bars and restaurants. An indication of the volume of trade...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: ...spending so much time stating what many noble Lords may well consider the obvious, but I am afraid that not all the participants in this debate are prepared to accept the scientific realities. Take British American Tobacco, for example, which, in its latest annual report, stated: "there is no convincing evidence that environmental tobacco smoke exposure genuinely increases the risk of...
Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) resource budget, (b) administration costs and (c) staff numbers are dedicated to the Companies Act investigation into British American Tobacco.
Andrew Dismore: ...in factories in Mexico, Thailand and China. In Brazil and Kenya, Christian Aid continues to report extreme health and safety violations of tobacco farmers who supply to major companies, such as British American Tobacco. In Nigeria, communities report ongoing problems with oil spills, emanating from Shell's operations there.
Patricia Hewitt: ...and the health risks of smoking, which was published by the Health Select Committee, my predecessor launched an investigation under Section 447 of the Companies Act 1985 to look at allegations that British American Tobacco has been involved in smuggling. The investigation has been completed. It has not uncovered material indicating a basis for launching a criminal investigation and the...
Michael Moore: ...a special responsibility to act on their behalf. Significant progress has been made since the issue was debated here last July. The Minister deserves considerable credit for the decision of British American Tobacco to withdraw, coming on the heels of Premier Oil's decision earlier last year to divest itself of its interests in Burma. More recently, PricewaterhouseCoopers, with which I was...
Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 December 2003 The two largest UK investors in Burma, Premier Oil and British American Tobacco, have agreed to withdraw from Burma. British investment is now minimal; a number of British tour operators have links with Burmese travel companies and Sea Containers/Orient Express operate cruises in Burma. I have however written to ABTA to suggest that travel operators promoting...
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice the Government has issued to British American Tobacco on the future of its cigarette factory in Burma owned jointly with the Burmese Government.
Colin Fox: ...'s document states will be targeted on smoking cessation services, particularly in poor areas, I am sure that we can all see that that sum is dwarfed by the billions of pounds spent by, for example, British American Tobacco on advertising and encouraging young women in particular to start up the habit. Similarly, a comparison between the resources that the Executive dedicates to alcohol...
Mr Iain Luke: ...Suu Kyi by the Burmese Government, a Government who still have close trading partnerships with a major British company. Since then, despite further pressure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British American Tobacco has not yet taken a decision to disinvest. Will my right hon. Friend urge the Prime Minister to find time, when we return in the autumn, to bring forward powers similar...
Mike O'Brien: ...there. Representatives of British companies or their subsidiaries that inquire about the prospects, either for trade with or investment in Burma, are informed of this policy. I met the Chairman of British American Tobacco, Mr. Marlin Broughton on 2 July 2003. BAT are the only major British investor in Burma. They run a partnership with the business arm of Burma's military directorship,...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, has any response yet been received from British American Tobacco to the request made by Mike O'Brien that it follows the example of Premier Oil and withdraws from Burma?
Mike O'Brien: ...certainly press the issue of Burma and the urgent need to release Aung San Suu Kyi. We are seeking to end all British investment in Burma. In particular, I have had a meeting with the chairman of British American Tobacco and have made it clear that our view is that BAT now needs to withdraw its investment in Burma. He has said that he will consider that request, and I hope to have his...
Mike O'Brien: ...in Burma is appropriate while the regime continues to suppress the basic human rights of its people. We are making that clear to British companies, and this morning I shall meet the chairman of British American Tobacco, which was saddled with a problematic investment in Burma as a result of a merger in the 1990s. The Government do not encourage tourists to visit or companies to invest in...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: ...European Union. At the very least, the United Kingdom should implement such a ban. The involvement of British companies in propping up the Burmese regime is particularly deplorable. One of those is British American Tobacco whose deputy chairman, Kenneth Clarke, MP, in a private letter, described the junta as "an extremely unpleasant regime". This regime is a 40 per cent shareholder in...
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the departmental report into alleged involvement by British American Tobacco in smuggling has been completed; and when it will be published.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: ...will play in adding to international pressure through ASEAN to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the other detainees? Furthermore, what are they doing to persuade British companies such as British American Tobacco to desist helping to prop up the regime by investing in the country?