Oral Answers to Questions

Jason McCartney Excerpts

Monday 21st May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Damian Green]

I have to say that that is complete nonsense. Our tourism industry is doing better than ever before. Somebody planning to fly here on holiday from India would have to pay £78 for a six-month visa, which would not be an even remotely significant part of the total cost of their holiday, so I have to say that the right hon. Gentleman has simply got it wrong.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

3. What steps she is taking to tackle alcohol-related antisocial behaviour.

[Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con)]

8. What steps she is taking to tackle alcohol-related antisocial behaviour.

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mrs Theresa May)]

On 23 March, I published the Government’s alcohol strategy, which set out radical proposals to tackle the harms caused by alcohol misuse and builds on the legislative steps we have already taken to give the police and local communities more powers to tackle problem premises and deal with late-night drinking problems.

[Jason McCartney]

Will my right hon. Friend introduce measures to encourage safe and responsible drinking in community, family-friendly pubs, rather than pre-loading at home on cheap bargain booze?

[Mrs May]

I know that my hon. Friend has long championed the cause of rural pubs in particular, and pubs that are a key part of their local communities. One of the proposals that we have put forward in the alcohol strategy, on which we are consulting, is the introduction of a minimum unit price, as well as banning bulk discount offers. We believe that both will have a significant impact on preventing people from pre-loading—which is so often a lot of the problem—after buying cheap alcohol from supermarkets. Those measures will have a real impact in helping friendly, local, well-run community pubs.