Professor defiant in tobacco-giant battle

A UNIVERSITY researcher at the centre of a row with the world’s biggest tobacco company has accused the firm of being part of a “pariah industry” intent on undermining his research into smoking.

Professor Gerard Hastings, of Stirling University’s Centre for Tobacco Control Research, spoke out after it emerged Philip Morris International (PMI) is attempting to gain access to his research into young people’s smoking habits.

The tobacco giant, which makes Marlboro cigarettes, has submitted Freedom of Information (FoI) requests asking for the university’s data.

The research, involving thousands of teenagers, examines why they start smoking and what they think of marketing by tobacco companies.

Prof Hastings, who has vowed not to release the information, said repeated information requests from PMI were undermining his team’s ability to carry out research.

He said: “It’s a big pain in the neck and takes a lot of time and effort for us to deal with. We don’t have the spare capacity for all the time this takes up, and that’s before you consider the stress involved.”

When asked about how the information request reflected on the tobacco company, he said: “It’s not bad PR we’re talking about, it’s people dying in their droves. This is a pariah industry which is doing the most appalling things. This is not new – Philip Morris has been doing this [submitting FoIs] for a long time. It’s a well-established modus operandi to try and find out as much as possible.”

He said it would be “catastrophic” if the centre lost its fight and was forced to hand over the data.

The department is currently preparing a response to the FOI request, which it will pass to the Information Commissioner. A PMI spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Information Commissioner confirmed in his decision of June 30, that we had a legitimate interest in seeking the information and asked the university to respond to the request.

“We are not seeking any private or confidential information on any individuals involved with the research. As provided by the Freedom of Information Act, confidential and private information concerning individuals should not be disclosed.”

In a statement, the office of Scotland’s Information Commissioner, Kevin Dunion, said: “The commissioner has not ordered the university to release the information. He has found that the request was not vexatious, and ordered the university to make a substantive response to Philip Morris International.

“A substantive response could include release of the information in part or whole, or a refusal to release information with an explanation of why, under the provisions of the FOI Act, the university believes this to be the correct course of action.

“For example, the university may conclude that an exemption applies or that it is too costly to respond.”