Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the NHS of their decision to freeze duties on alcohol other than white cider.

The costing of Budget measures includes only the direct consequences of those measures.

The government does not attempt to quantify the indirect effects of Budget measures, such as the impact on the NHS, as those are dependent on many dynamic factors that are not feasible to accurately model.

This is accordance with the methodology endorsed by the Office of Budget Responsibility.

HM Treasury does consult with the Department of Health, the NHS and other public health bodies on alcohol duties, and will continue to do so.