Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Kelvin Hopkins Excerpts
Monday 10th March 2014

(10 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait Mrs May
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We are going to introduce a ban on the sale of alcohol below the cost of duty plus VAT. That was a coalition agreement commitment, which will be introduced this April. We are also working with the industry and challenging it to ensure that it raises its game in dealing with problems related to excessive binge drinking and alcohol use, and we will watch what happens. Obviously Scotland is moving on the minimum unit price. There are legal issues and it will be interesting to see what evidence arises from that.

Kelvin Hopkins Portrait Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)
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Following the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham), some of us believe that the primary problem with alcohol is a health problem rather than one of disorder and crime. Is the Home Secretary working closely with the Department of Health to ensure that we deal with alcohol seriously?