Leicester Businesses Launch Fight Against Government

LEICESTER, England, April 27, 2010 - Yesterday the Leicestershire Asian Business Association (LABA)
launched a judicial review against the government to challenge legislation
that will ban the display of tobacco products in retail shops.

The Point of Sale Display Ban was incorporated into the 2009
Health Act. At the time it was criticized by parliamentarians as being based
on spurious evidence. The government of the day admitted that any evidence of
the display ban in reducing smoking as merely "speculative".

LABA believes that many small businesses in Leicestershire
could close because of the costs associated with refitting the shop to hide
cigarettes and the business lost as a result of consumers being driven to
large retail chains. This legislation will also have implications for
workers' security as they spend time to search below the counter for the
correct brand of cigarettes. Retailers explained the realities of
implementing this legislation at the time of consultation on the original
bill, but their voices were ignored.

LABA President, Jaspal Minhas commented:

"My members see the display ban as an attack on their
livelihoods in a very difficult economic climate. Retailers are already under
enough pressure to stay in business; keeping open all hours, meeting the
needs of the customers in their local communities. Government should support
the corner shop and other small businesses by crafting policies that help
them - not make life more difficult. We will not give up in our quest to
change this regulation or any other that unreasonably hurts the interests of
our members. We urge other retailers and organisations to follow suit and for
our political parties to take a stance against this regulation."

Notes to Editors

LABA is the leading British Asian Business led economic driver for
Leicestershire and wider East Midlands region. Successfully fostering
business development, training, inward investment and international trade for
the last twenty five years.

LABA will actively encourage support for the three main
parties and independent candidates who have measurable and deliverable
economic well-being of the British Asian Businesses at the heart of their
election manifestos.

For more information please contact: Simon Petar on +44-(0)7968615113, spetar at gardantcommunications.com