§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to sponsor anti-alcoholism programmes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Health Education Council acts for the Government in educating people in ways of staying healthy. Its action towards preventing the misuse of alcohol, including the planning of two further regional campaigns to start next year, is summarised in its annual report for 1983–84, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
In addition, I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 16 November 1983 to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle), at columns 483–4, about the new national organisation, Alcohol Concern. Within the Government's general strategy outlined in that reply we hope that the new organisation, to which we give substantial grant aid, will soon be ready to plan work on prevention of alcohol misuse in consultation with the Health Education Council, district health authorities, local authorities and local councils on alcoholism.