§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in the Official Report the latest information of the per capita consumption of absolute alcohol in the United Kingdom and the other eight member countries of the EEC; and the price relative to personal disposable income.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in presenting its case to the European Court in the action brought by the European Communities against the alleged fiscal discrimination against wine imported in the Community, Her Majesty's Government will bear in mind the advice of the Advisory Committee on Alcohol and the Parliamentary Expenditure Sub-Committee on Preventive Medicine that the price of alcohol in the United Kingdom should not be reduced in view of the likely harmful effects on health of increasing levels of consumption; and whether it will be possible for the health aspect to be brought specifically before the European Court.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe Government are still considering the reports of the Select Committee which dealt with preventive medicine and of the Advisory Committee on Alcoholism. They hope to issue a consultative document before the end of this year. It is therefore unlikely that they will have been able to determine their position on alcohol and health by the time that they are required to make their submission to the European Court.