Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Field of Birkenhead Excerpts
Monday 6th February 2012

(12 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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My hon. Friend has highlighted an issue of wanton antisocial behaviour, and I was struck by how the police are having to deal with some antisocial problems in his community. There are offences on the statute book that could be used to deal with the problem that he has identified, but if he is willing to write to me, I will certainly look into this matter in further detail.

Lord Field of Birkenhead Portrait Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab)
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May I bring the Minister back to the issue of minimum pricing for alcohol? In Merseyside, the city region’s poverty and life chances commission has advocated a minimum price per unit of alcohol. Is that strategy, which is to cover six boroughs, one that he supports?

James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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The Government believe that alcohol pricing and taxation are matters best handled at a national level, but where there are suitable local solutions we will welcome them. A number of challenges are involved in delivering local pricing policies, and we will work with local authorities and the trade to consider the legal and practical implications of this issue.