§ Mrs. RoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to take forward the strategy set out in the green paper, Our Healthier Nation, on alcohol; and what is his Department's timetable for producing this strategy. [41508]
§ Ms JowellWe intend to produce a coherent strategy which reinforces our messages about sensible drinking and provides an effective framework for action to tackle alcohol misuse in all its forms. It will need to reflect all of the issues of major concern about alcohol across Government, as well as for other interested parties, including the alcohol industry. Much new co-ordinated work on alcohol is already taking place, for example through the Ministerial group on under-age drinking; the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions' consultation exercise on drink-driving and the Home Office's recently announced review of liquor licensing. But that work will be more successful if it can take place within the context of a clearer framework for activity. Alcohol Concern have secured private sector support to carry out an extensive consultation exercise by the end of 1998 on what form an alcohol strategy might take. All interests should be reflected in this process and we will await its results before taking further action.