§ Ross CranstonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in the publication of the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy; and when he expects the strategy to be published. [127147]
§ Ms BlearsThe Government are on course to meet the target in the NHS Plan to implement the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy by 2004. A large scale consultation has been conducted jointly by the Department of Health and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. This yielded a large number of responses which have been extremely valuable in informing the development of the strategy. The Strategy Unit is due to publish its interim analysis shortly.
The Strategy Unit's final report, which will set out the cross-governmental alcohol harm reduction strategy, is due for publication during the autumn. There will then be further Government consultation on the details of implementation and the strategy will be implemented according to timetable by 2004.