§ Lord RodneyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how much help they are giving to the National Alcohol Forum.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)My Lords, informal discussions have recently been held with interested bodies about the proposal contained in the health department's discussion document Drinking Sensibly to establish an alcohol forum. The question of the nature and extent of Government support is one of a number of matters which will be the subject of further discussions. We welcome this approach from those groups.
§ Lord RodneyMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that Answer. Can she elaborate on the object of the forum?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, Drinking Sensibly envisaged that the forum would be a group quite independent of Government and in which industry, voluntary bodies and professions would be voluntarily represented and could focus on the promotion of sensible drinking habits. There is a limit to what the Government can do to encourage sensible drinking by the individual.