§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives he has taken in respect of research into alcohol misuse and the social effects of alcohol misuse in Scotland; and how much money he has made available for this purpose in the current financial year.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythAlcohol misuse and alcohol-related problems have been identified as a priority area for research supported by the Scottish Office for many years.
147WEstimated expenditure on external alcohol-related research in the 1990–91 financial year is £15,000. Additional funds are available and applications for soundly based research projects will be sympathetically considered. In addition, an evaluation of experimental byelaws to prohibit the consumption of alcohol in designated public places is being conducted internally by the Scottish Office.