Alcohol: Minimum Unit Price Debate

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Department: Home Office

Alcohol: Minimum Unit Price

Henry Smith Excerpts
Thursday 14th March 2013

(11 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Browne Portrait Mr Browne
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I am giving clarity. I am explaining that there has been a widespread consultation process. There are a large number of factors that a mature, responsible Government would need to consider carefully. That is what this mature, responsible Government are doing, and when we are in a position to announce the conclusions, we will do so.

Henry Smith Portrait Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)
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Does the Minister agree that local initiatives to tackle alcohol misuse, such as the Crawley and Gatwick business watch scheme to label high strength alcohol and restrict its sale, have an important part to play?

Jeremy Browne Portrait Mr Browne
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Yes, I agree that localism has an important part to play. We have sought to reflect that in the way we have changed licensing regulations—precisely the sort of practical, locally responsive measures that appear to be treated with contempt by the Opposition but are welcomed by communities across the country.