Alcohol: Minimum Pricing

Baroness Smith of Basildon Excerpts

Thursday 14th March 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Basildon]

I thank the noble Lord for repeating the Statement. I know he sought to clarify the position but I am not sure he really has. In the final paragraph of the Statement, he said:

“On minimum unit pricing … We have to ensure that we base our decision on a careful consideration of all the representations”,

in relation to the consultation. That consultation document states:

“In the Strategy, the Government committed to introducing a minimum unit price. However, in other areas, this consultation seeks views on the introduction of policies”.

It refers to “other areas”. The consultation was not about minimum unit pricing. Less than a year ago, the Home Secretary said that,

“the problem is now so acute that we need to go further. We will therefore introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol”.—[Official Report, Commons, 23/3/12; col. 1071.]

There were no ifs, no buts, no qualification and no equivocation. So determined were the Government, they even refused to consult on the principle. What changed?