Health: Liver Disease

Baroness Masham of Ilton Excerpts

Wednesday 9th December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

My Lords, I understand that that is precisely one of the issues that the responsibility deal has studied and addressed.

[Baroness Masham of Ilton (CB)]

My Lords—

[Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab)]

My Lords, may I quickly return to the issue of minimum unit pricing, because—

[Noble Lords]

Order!

[Baroness Masham of Ilton]

My Lords, thank you. Is the Minister aware that the UK is the worst country in Europe for liver disease? Is he not rather worried about cutting funds for public health?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

My Lords, we clearly have a major problem with liver disease—I think that we can all agree on that. The report by the Lancet commission has some very useful recommendations that we must take seriously. It is true that other countries in Europe have had more success in tackling this. I cite France as a case in point. We will take on board the number of recommendations made by the Lancet commission, as well as other initiatives we are taking.