asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will respond to the recent recommendations of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK on increasing alcohol taxation, the regulation of the drinks industry and the funding of alcohol treatment and prevention programme. [HL270]

The Government have signalled their intention to give greater priority to alcohol prevention and treatment. From April 2008, the National Health Service will have a new indicator, for the rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions, linked to the new Home Office Alcohol and Drugs Public Service Agreement. We believe that this new priority, coupled with work during 2008 to identify the cost of alcohol-related ill health to the NHS, with the opportunities to reduce this, will give a strong incentive for primary care trusts to invest in alcohol prevention as well as treatment.

Controls on alcohol advertising are a mix of the statutory and voluntary. The Licensing Act 2003 has given additional powers to licensing authorities to set conditions which ensure that licensees exercise responsibility.

The renewed national alcohol strategy, Safe, Sensible, Social, has committed the Home Office to commission a full scrutiny of how far the industry's own social responsibility standards are effective in preventing harm. The department will shortly commission an independent review of alcohol pricing, promotion and harm. This will begin in December 2007 and report in July 2008, covering the full range of issues around advertising, price discounting and its promotion, and links between these and harm to young drinkers and other groups. The voluntary agreement we have made with the alcohol industry for inclusion of alcohol unit content and health information on labels will be subject to independent monitoring.

We have made clear that, in each of these areas, if the evidence justifies it, we will be ready to consult next year on the need for regulatory change, including possible legislation.

Decisions on taxation are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking account of health, economic and other issues.