EU TOBACCO SUBSIDY

Early day motion 948, tabled 25 February 2010 by John Mason (Scottish National Party). Signed by 33 members.

That this House expresses disappointment at the continuing subsidy by the European Union of tobacco cultivation to the tune of some £260 million each year despite the many more millions paid by the EU in anti-tobacco public information campaigns and billions of pounds worth of damage done to the EU's economy by the public health impact of smoking as well as the real damage on the health of individuals; believes that tobacco subsidy should end immediately and if need be subsidies to cultivation of alternative crops be explored; wholly supports the campaign and petition by Alyn Smith MEP to achieve this aim; and welcomes the backing of the News of the World newspaper for the campaign.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Liberal Democrat 7, Scottish National Party 3, Independent 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1.