I feel we made some progress in one or two important areas and that he listened very closely when

“I feel we made some progress in one or two important areas and that he listened very closely when I raised the question of random testing for cannabis in prisons,” Mr Iddon said.”But on the question of decriminalisation, he said that government policy would remain unchanged. We also discussed the medical uses of cannabis, and it is well known that Health Secretary Frank Dobson has said he would listen to arguments.”Meanwhile, the IoS Decriminalise Cannabis campaign continues to attract new supporters. This week, the writers John Mortimer and Frederic Raphael sign our petition, as does stage actress Zoe Wanamaker, BBC TV’s Dervla Kirwan and singers Marianne Faithfull and Boy George.Campaign reports, pages 21-22. More than 41 per cent of Labour MPs taking part said ‘No’ to the question, “Do you think that the possession and use of cannabis in the UK should be illegal”?The poll was conducted over the summer recess and 130 MPs from all parties took part.Last week, a cross-party group of 17 MPs signed an Early Day Motion urging the Government to respond swiftly to growing evidence that cannabis can help treat disease and reduce pain.Last Monday, another leading MP campaigning for a change in laws, Dr Brian Iddon, met with George Howarth, the Home Office minister in charge of drugs policy. Only 15 per cent voted against, with just over eight per cent undecided.
The poll was conducted by the London bureau of Japanese newspaper the Hokkaido Shimbun, which has reported on the Independent on Sunday campaign to decriminalise cannabis.Each MP was sent a short questionnaire and told they could reply anonymously, which may have accounted for the high proportion of answers from Conservative MPs, the political group traditionally shyest about expressing support for reform of our out-dated drug laws.Just over a third of MPs from all parties voted in favour of decriminalising cannabis for personal and recreational use, with Labour MPs the group most in favour of this proposition.

Of the MPs who took part, 70 per cent said there was a case for allowing doctors the right to prescribe cannabis for medicinal purposes. Cabin crew are also required to submit themselves to tests if they believe they may have become infected.. If the Government were to allow a free vote in Parliament, cannabis would be decriminalised at a stroke, says a new poll. Lesbian, gay and unmarried partners receive the same pension benefits as husbands and wives.But it still tests pilots for HIV, arguing this is because all flight crew must be vaccinated against Yellow fever, which would threaten the health of someone who was HIV positive.

Its rival, Virgin, recently dropped gay package holidays after just one season because of a poor response.British Airways has also accommodated gay rights in other ways. In 1995, it agreed that unmarried serving staff can nominate a relative or partner of either sex to enjoy cheap travel – about 90 per cent off the full price. For the past few months BA has been selling African safari holidays to gay groups in the US. Last year it joined the US-based Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, an umbrella group of travel agents that offers specialist holidays to gay groups. “We view it as a niche that we should target in the same way that 18-30s and Saga groups are a niche,” said BA spokesman Iain Burns.”The American gay community is very open, accepted and sophisticated.

Although getting involved is new to BA, the community has been targeted by American airlines for some years.”We don’t have a problem being associated with the card. We live in an age of openness and BA needs to be a part of that.”The card sponsorship is not British Airways’ first association with gay and lesbian groups. The airline has agreed a multi-year deal to support the Rainbow Card, a Visa card founded by the Wimbledon tennis champion Martina Navratilova.
The US-based card works the same way as a charity credit card: for every dollar the cardholder spends, about a cent is donated to charities that support issues of concern to the gay community, such as research into HIV.BA is also sponsoring the annual Rainbow Card Leadership Award, a project that donates pounds 6,000 a year to a cause that benefits the gay and lesbian community in the US. The airline is the Rainbow Card’s second sponsor, after the Subaru branch of Fuji Heavy Industries.The airline says it has taken a pragmatic view that the spending power of the gay and lesbian community in the US cannot be ignored. Mr Blair will attend the meeting, which is expected to discuss the single currency.Focus, page 19. Forget the gold card It’s the pink card that now has financial clout. British Airways has entered the burgeoning gay and lesbian market in the United States by sponsoring a credit card that donates part of its profits to gay rights charities.