HEALTH campaigners have called on the Scottish Parliament to set strict limits on MSPs' engagement with tobacco lobbyists.

A coalition of medical professionals, cancer charities and anti-smoking group, ASH, has petitioned the Scottish Parliament authorities to set tougher restrictions on the cigarette industry's access to politicians.

Their Public Petition highlights that the UK is bound by an international health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This recognises the tobacco industry’s long history of interference in legitimate public health policies and sets strict limits on engagement with the tobacco industry.

Yet no guidance has been provided to MSPs or Parliament staff as to how this impacts on their work.

It comes after Charlie Cunningham-Reid, the UK head of corporate affairs for Japan Tobacco International (JTI), one of the world’s largest tobacco companies, gave evidence to the Health and Sport Committee.

His invitation followed a submission by the E-Lites electronic cigarette company, owned by JTI.

In their submission, the health campaigners state: “For a senior tobacco industry representative to give evidence to a Parliamentary Committee on a submission which claims to not relate to smoking raises serious concerns over the Framework Convention obligations regarding transparency.”

The treaty does not prohibit signatories from engagement with the tobacco industry, but recognises that the interests of the industry are in direct conflict with the goals of public health and demands that legislators protect policy-making "from commercial and other vested interests". Any interactions must be "strictly necessary" and transparent.

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of ASH Scotland, said: “We know that the tobacco industry seeks to influence political action on health, as shown by the millions it recently threw at opposing plain packaging for tobacco products. MSPs and Parliament staff need to know about this history, and the limits placed on engaging with the tobacco industry.”

Mr Cunningham-Reid said: “E- Lites are a logical extension of our product portfolio as a result of changing consumer demand and through our resources and investment we can make a significant contribution to the continued development and quality of the e-cigarette category."

The Scottish Parliament confirmed the petition had been received and would be considered in due course.