Tobacco Documents Online

TA 1496 TOBACCO ADVISORY COUNCIL Cil.n Hous., Stag Plaas, London, SW1E 5ACi It.w ile i.a.. W114.w. K.>t.E.. M.C. Ch.ln... T410'h.a.. 01- 42t 3s02 /2041 T.i.1f.:u TOSCOM LONDON fWlt !AO 22nd November, 1979 The Viscount Trenchard, MC, Minister of State, Department of Industry, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1. J I \f ~ ., ;-C , C- You may recall that we corresponded briefly in the summer about the possibility of your receiving a delegation from the tobacco`industry at some stage in order to discuss,the general state of the industry, and, in particular, our position in relation to H.:I.G. After consulting your officials, we concluded that it would be best not to bother you until I had had an opportunity to discuss with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services his Department's approach to the re-negotiations of the voluntary agreements between the tobacco industry and H.M.G. We now understand that the Secretary of State for Health, with whom I have already held an informall exchange of views, will now shortly be inviting the T.A.C. to meet him before Christmas to discuss the re-negotiation of the voluntary agreements. In these circt;mstances, it might be appropriate for you, as our sponsor Minister, to see a small top level body from T.A.C. before this meeting takes place. If you felt able to agree to this proposition, T.A.C. would use the opportunity to set out the industry's stance in relation to the voluntary agreements, as they stand at present. We might perhaps, at the same time, say a word to you about the general position of the industry, and any other areas in which, in the foreseeable future, we shall be looking for help frcm you and your officials. Meanwhile, I attach a brief memorandum of the main points we shall be seeking to make to you in relation to the re-negotiat.ion of voluntary agreements with H:M.G.