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Health Bill [HL]

I was mentioning the tobacco retailers. Some noble Lords, particularly those who are members of new Labour, might be interested to know that we have heard from the trade union UNITE. It does not support these clauses at all. It says that: ""The UK tobacco industry is highly profitable to the Treasury, generating tax revenue of £10 billion ... There are currently 6,500 people working in the tobacco sector and … 80,000 people in the UK"." It says that exports are worth £984 million and, ""the illegal trade in tobacco products is costing the UK tax payer and the public sector £4.3 billion"" per year. That is not from me but from a trade union that gives a lot of money to the Labour Party. It is worried, as it is entitled to be, about the jobs of its members at a time when there is a very serious depression. We have to take these things into account.