London, May 25: Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has been accused of delaying an inquiry into whether Britain's biggest tobacco firm encouraged cigarette smuggling, 'The Independent' reported today. Legislators and anti-smoking groups have demanded to know whether Blair intervened in the inquiry into British American tobacco because of his friendship with bat shareholder Alain Dominique Perrin, the paper said.

'The Independent' said that Blair took a five-day holiday in southwest France last year at billionaire Perrin's 15th-century chateau.
Perrin, who heads the luxury goods firm Richemont, has also stayed at the Prime Minister's country residence chequers, near London, the paper said.

It added that Blair's eldest son Euan had a summer job at Hackett, a London shop owned by Richemont, before going to university.

A Downing Street spokesman said Blair and Perrin "met during a private family holiday. The contact was social. There is nothing to add to that."
A probe by Britain's department of trade and industry into bat "is being handled in the usual way," he added.

Parliament's health select committee fears the inquiry into bat set up in 2000 has been "kicked into the long grass" by government ministers, 'The Independent' said.
Committee chairman David Hinchliffe told the paper, "I am concerned about the length of time (the inquiry) is taking and the committee a ways has the option of revising inquiries and records and this is certainly an issue I would not wish to abandon."

Bureau Report