Tobacco licence fee is to 'pay for new civil servant'

A RETAILER has claimed that proposed tobacco licence fees are being introduced to pay for a new civil servant.

Health and Social Services is recommending that a charge of between £300 and £1,000 be levied on businesses as part of a series of updates to tobacco legislation aimed at reducing smoking, particularly among the young.

Its report said the fees would cover administration and enforcement costs, with some of the money going towards expanding Quitline.

But Phillip Morgan, pictured, who is the proprietor of Paper Box and Candy Shop in St Peter Port, claimed retailers were told that cash generated from the proposal would pay for a new 'health promotion' post, at a cost of '£50,000' a year.

Director of public health Dr Stephen Bridgman confirmed there would be some expense to cover compliance of the new tobacco measures, but insisted the cost of staff to regulate these would be lower than £50,000.