Further to your letter dated 14 January, which I received on 19 January, I am responding on RJR UK's behalf to your request for supplementary information, as follows:

  [For ease of reference, I have used your numbering system and the relevant question appears in bold type above each answer.]

Please indicate the amounts your company spends on research annually, what proportion of turnover that represents; and what proportion of that research is geared towards the health risks of smoking.

  As I explained at the Select Committee hearing on 13 January, our former sister company, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, based in the US, has, until very recently, carried out all relevant research in relation to RJR brands and new product development. RJR UK's role has been limited to providing marketing and sales support in the UK. (Please see section 1 of our written submission to the Health Commitee in this regard.)

  We are no longer affiliated with the US company and I do not have the details which you have requested.

Please indicate the outcome of legal proceedings brought against SCOTH and confirm whether your company was a party to the action.

  I am not aware of the outcome of the legal proceedings. My company was not a party to the action.

Does your company believe that nicotine is addictive by reference to each of these criteria:

  (a)  DSM-IV

  (b)  ICD 10?

  Yes—nicotine can be seen as "addictive" if what is meant by this is that it is capable of creating some of the dependence and withdrawal symptoms that are described in DSM IV and ICD 10.

(1, 3 and 5)—Does smoking cause lung cancer, heart and circulation disease and respiratory illnesses, such as emphysema—"cause" meaning that smoking is an activity that results in there being more lung cancer, heart and circulation disease and respiratory illness related deaths than there would otherwise be—other things being equal?

  Yes, based on the interpretation of the evidence by the public health authorities. Other factors, however, may also be required to develop these diseases.

(2, 4 and 6) Do you agree that smoking causes lung cancer, heart and circulation disease and respiratory illnesses such as emphysema beyond all reasonable doubt?

  No—nobody knows what causes these diseases beyond all reasonable doubt.

25 January 2000