Lords question Minister on EU Tobacco Products Directive
In the second and final session of its enhanced scrutiny of the EU's proposed revision of the Tobacco Products Directive, the House of Lords Home Affairs, Health and Education EU Sub-Committee will quiz Anna Soubry MP, Minister for Public Health, on Wednesday 13 March.
Following the session in which the Committee heard from the Director of Tobacco Control at Cancer Research UK and the Secretary General of the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association, the Committee will question the Minister on issues including:
- if the Government agrees that the Directive needs to be updated and if the Commission's proposal has a proper legal basis;
- whether the Government thinks this proposal achieves a level playing field between the marketing requirements for tobacco products and the public health requirements across Member States;
- if the Government agrees with the inclusion of non-tobacco nicotine-containing products within the scope of the proposal;
- if the current sale and marketing of products, including ‘slim' cigarettes, can mislead consumers into thinking they are less harmful; and
- what the Government is doing to combat the illicit trade in tobacco products in the UK, if the EU could do anything to support this work and if the proposed Directive will help to fight the problem or inadvertently encourage it.
The evidence session will take place at 11am on Wednesday 13 March in Committee Room 3.
The sessions will be webcast live at www.parliamentlive.tv and are also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
