Leading health professionals and charities have urged Holyrood to limit engagement with the tobacco industry after a senior representative gave evidence to members of the Scottish Parliament.
A public petition has been lodged calling on parliament to ensure that politicians and staff adhere to international guidelines for interaction with tobacco companies.
The petition was launched after the appearance of Charlie Cunningham-Reid, the UK head of corporate affairs and communications for Japan Tobacco International, at September 8’s meeting of the health committee.
Cunningham-Reid was giving evidence on proposed Scottish government legislation that would introduce restrictions on the sale and marketing of electronic cigarettes.
But he also commented on another aspect of the bill that would make it an offence to smoke in parts of hospital grounds, as did the company’s written submission to the committee.
Campaigners pointed out that the UK is bound by provisions of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to protect their public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.