Shops in final tobacco plea

SHOPKEEPERS and tobacco manufacturers today made a last-minute appeal to MSPs not to ban the display of cigarettes in shops.

The Scottish Parliament was this afternoon expected to pass a Bill requiring retailers to keep tobacco out of sight and outlawing cigarette vending machines.

The Scottish Government says the Bill is needed to help prevent children from taking up smoking. But shopkeepers from the Tobacco Retailers Alliance claim there is no evidence the move will make any difference.