APPENDIX 42
Letter from the Vice President Corporate
Affairs, Philip Morris, European Union Region to the Clerk of
the Committee (TB 19D)
Thank you for your letter dated 28 February
2000, in which you request on behalf of the Committee that I provide
the basis for my comment that Professor Perry's "affiliation
with the industry and with Philip Morris was very well known".
My statement that Professor Roger Perry's association
with tobacco companies was well known was based on my understanding
that the relationship was reported in the media as early as 1988.
Indeed, as I stated to the Committee, Professor Perry was publicly
criticised for his involvement with the tobacco companies. The
attached news articles and radio broadcast transcript are examples
of the publicity that Professor Perry's relationship with the
tobacco industry and Philip Morris received in 1988.
Further, in a 1998 news article (also attached)
it was reported that Frank Cranmer, a clerk to the Environment
Committee at a time when Professor Perry was special adviser to
that committee, acknowledged that the members of the Environment
Committee were aware Professor Perry had a relationship with the
tobacco industry.
It should also be noted that Professor Perry's
relationship with the Environment Committee began long before
1991. He had been acting as an adviser to that committee since
1988, the same year in which his relationship with the tobacco
industry was much publicised.
Based on these facts, it is clear that Professor
Perry's relationship with the tobacco industry in general, and
Philip Morris in particular, was public knowledge. Given the statements
of the fomer clerk to the Environment Committee, the calibre of
the membership of the Environment Committee and their advisers,
as well as the Committee's years long relationship with Professor
Perry, there is every reason to believe they were aware of the
relationship.
Your letter also seeks information with respect
to the contracts that existed between Philip Morris and Professor
Perry. In 1985 the Tobacco Advisory Council ("TAC"),
and then in 1988 Philip Morris, entered into research contracts
with Professor Perry which extended through 1991, the year in
which this Committee has expressed interest. I cannot say whether
the Environment Committee was advised of each contract, but as
noted above Professor Perry's relationship with the tobacco companies
had been made known to that committee. This fact, as also mentioned
above, was acknowledged by the former Clerk of the Environment
Committee. Moreover, the contractual relationship between Professor
Perry and the tobacco companies, and the research he conducted
that was financed by the tobacco industry, was the subject of
media attention in 1988, as discussed in the news articles referenced
above.
I hope this letter addresses any questions the
Committee may have had.
17 March 2000
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