NEWS RELEASE | Monday 6 November 2006

CMO "playing at politics, not science"

FOREST has dismissed as "crude propaganda" claims that the smoking ban may lead to the eradication of lung cancer in Scotland.
 
According to Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Harry Burns, there could in future be just a few hundred cases a year. 
 
FOREST spokesman Neil Rafferty said: "This is idle speculation with no basis in fact. It's crude propaganda designed to justify a draconian piece of legislation.
 
"Smoking bans have little effect on smoking rates. Nor is there evidence to suggest that passive smoking is a significant cause of lung cancer so it is outrageous to imply that smoking bans have a major impact on non-smokers.
 
"Smoking bans have failed to eradicate lung cancer elsewhere so why should Scotland should be different? Dr Burns is being irresponsible in raising expectations. It's a cynical tactic designed to persuade the public that government should be given even more powers to change people's lifestyle."
 
Brian Monteith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife and a former spokesman for Forest in Scotland, said: "The chief medical officer is playing at politics not science and his claim is completely groundless. Lung cancer exists without tobacco use or exposure to tobacco smoke. Its incidence varies worldwide irrespective of the level of tobacco consumption or restrictions on smoking."