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Indicators of Influence
These seven key indicators highlight interference from the tobacco industry in the United Kingdom.
No. 1
Industry participation in policy development
Indicator Score:
2 / 20
No. 2
Tobacco industry-related CSR activities
Indicator Score:
3 / 20
No. 3
Benefits given to the tobacco industry
Indicator Score:
2 / 20
No. 4
Unnecessary interaction with the tobacco industry
Indicator Score:
3 / 20
No. 5
Procedure for transparency measures
Indicator Score:
4 / 20
No. 6
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Indicator Score:
7 / 20
No. 7
Preventive measures
Indicator Score:
11 / 30
Recommendations
These are ways the United Kingdom can deter interference from the tobacco industry:
- Collect and publish industry data on profits, taxes, prices, spending on marketing, research and CSR and local data on sales of all products as recommended by the backbench All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health.
- Implement and embed a government program to regularly raise and maintain awareness of Article 5.3 and how to comply with it across all government agencies.
- Require the DHSC to develop and disseminate a comprehensive set of rules for public officials, prescribing standards with which public officials should comply in dealings with the industry.
- Ban industry CSR activities in the U.K.
- Create a comprehensive and legally binding lobbying transparency register and make it a legal requirement for industry affiliated organizations and individuals to register with the government before lobbying.
- Avoid conflicts of interest by prohibiting the industry from making contributions (monetary of otherwise) to government officials. These would include offers of assistance, policy drafts or study visit invitations. Prohibit public officials from holding positions in, or being seconded to, the industry.
- Audit HMRC to ascertain whether the government provides preferential tax exemption to the industry and remove duty-free concessions for tobacco products.
Learn more about tobacco industry interference in this country.
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