Croeso cynnes iawn (but don't smoke)
Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 13:24 Phew, that was close.
Yesterday was the closing date for submissions to the Welsh Assembly Government's consultation on the draft Tobacco Control Action Plan for Wales.
Forest's response was submitted at 23:59 precisely. We did our best to answer the questions, really we did, but I'm getting ever more cynical about these so-called 'consultations'.
Consequently, when the final question asked, 'Do you wish to make any other comments on the draft Tobacco Control Action Plan for Wales?', I wrote:
We note that Forest, which was founded in 1979 and is well-known in media and political circles as a group that campaigns on behalf of those who choose to consume tobacco, is not included in the List of Consultees.
Indeed, looking at the list, we cannot find a single organisation that represents those consumers who choose to consume tobacco, enjoy consuming tobacco and take great pleasure from consuming tobacco, despite the potential health risks (which they are well aware of).
We note too that in the Respondent’s Details it lists ‘Tobacco manufacturer’ and ‘Tobacco retailer’ but does not include ‘Tobacco consumer’.
We consider it negligent that such a consultation can be carried out with no apparent attempt to consult those who enjoy consuming tobacco and have no wish to give up. This suggests a myopic attitude to the subject that ill becomes government and brings into question the impartiality of the entire consultation process.
Anyway, I know our submission has been accepted because this morning I received the following email:
Annwyl Simon Clark,
Diolch am ymateb i'r ymgynghoriad uchod. Bydd pob ymateb a ddaw i law yn cael eu hystyried cyn cwblhau'r Cynllun Gweithredu maes o law.
Yn gywir
PS. The headline means "A very warm welcome" (I think).
Reader Comments (7)
I bobbed that in an online translator and got this back:
"Thank about answer I ' group consultation above. He will be each answer I go he comes I rain having them.) before fulfill ' group Plan Act field he rain. correct"
Makes about as much sense as your average tobacco do-gooder I suppose.
Dear Simon Clark
Thank you for responding to the above consultation. All responses received will be considered before completion of the Action Plan in due course.
Yours sincerely
Google: probably made it more sensible than it was in the original
Except that consultation is a scam and is only desgined to give the appearance of listening to all sides when I can already predict what will happen.
Only one legal industry - Tobacco- will be ignored in favour of the bulti-million pound anti-smoker industry and only one consumer will be ignored - the smoker - but the minority of mentally deficient anti-smokers will get more of a voice then they deserve.
Dear Simon Clark,
Thank you for responding to the above consultation. Every response will be considered before completion of the Action Plan in due course.
Yours Truly.
Diolch yn fawr, Bucko. Eich cyfieithiad yn wael iawn.
Right - so Forest's submission has been acknowledged. "Thank you...(yawn)....for your sbmission....(sip coffee).....Safety is our number one priority.......(oops - delete that).....(for heavens sake.......bin it!).
What do we really expect? This whole corrupted process started under Blair (or Campbell) though it was on its way in Major's insipid reign. Scoth, All Party Committee? all 'volunteers'. Let's not forget the Taxpayer funded 'charities', the selected 'consultations' none of us had ever heard about, the local party 'impartial' astroturfers and the bought and paid for MSM. Complete the issue with an important sounding but worthless bit of paper called the FCTC which in their minds effectively gags anybody who disagrees. An object lesson in wholly corrupted democracy.
This is why I support the efforts of the likes of Simon and Dave Atherton. It is politically machinated and must be dealt with in the environs of the House.
Was it a general invitation to contribute, or were there specific consultees whose opinion will be given more weight? Either way I agree it is nonsense not to include you.