Tag: Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2015-11-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why their health impact assessments relating to reducing and freezing alcohol duties do not refer to consultations with Public Health England and NHS England.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

Treasury Ministers and officials discuss a variety of issues with a range of stakeholder throughout the year, including in the run up to Budget.

The Government published its assessment of the impacts of the alcohol duty change in the Tax Information and Impact Notes published alongside the March 2015 Budget document. This information is available on the gov.uk website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2015-12-17.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they have taken since 2010 to reduce air pollution caused by traffic journeys to Heathrow airport and in its immediate vicinity, and what was the outcome of those measures.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble

While the relevant local authority would be best placed to provide details on any specific measures, over recent decades, air quality has improved significantly. Between 2005 and 2013 emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 38% and particulate matter has reduced by more than 16%. The Government is investing heavily in transport measures to reduce air pollution and since 2011 has committed £2 billion to increase the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, support green transport initiatives and support Local Authorities to take action.

On 17 December, we issued the UK plan for improving air quality. It sets out a comprehensive approach that will reduce health impacts and meet our environmental and legal obligations. It is available on the GOV.UK website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2016-10-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of Brexit, they are considering using a more flexible and variable approach to setting VAT and Excise duties for different goods and services to improve the nation’s health and wellbeing.

Lord Young of Cookham

Until the UK has left the EU, we will remain a member of the EU with all the rights and obligations that membership entails.

The Government will work hard to get the best deal for Britain, including for VAT and excise, and is determined to make the most of the opportunities that are presented.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2015-10-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish a health impact assessment of the reductions in, and freezes to, alcohol duties announced in the last Budget.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

The Government published its assessment of the impacts of the alcohol duty change in the Tax Information and Impact Notes published alongside the March 2015 Budget document. Budget documentation is available in the Printed Paper Office.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2015-10-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take further steps to advise the public about the amount of sugar in alcohol.

Lord Prior of Brampton

We are not currently planning any national policies on nutrition labelling of alcohol. However, some businesses are choosing to label calories voluntarily on their alcoholic beverages. The possibility of mandating calorie labelling on alcohol is under discussion at European Union level.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 19 March (HL5704), whether they plan to review the Coalition Government’s policy and to seek funding from the drinks industry to fund the Department for Transport’s drink driving campaigns.

Viscount Younger of Leckie

Sources of funding for campaign spend are kept under review but we currently have no plans to introduce a levy on the drinks industry to fund the drink drive campaign.

Instead our aim is to develop partnerships with brands who can provide incentives to help drivers avoid alcohol if they are driving, or to help those people who are drinking get home safely without driving. To date we have secured the following partnerships so far for our 2015 campaign:

– Coca Cola, who will be running their designated driver campaign, rewarding designated drivers with a buy-one-get-one-free offer on coke drinks in thousands of venues during the festive season.

– Budweiser who also promote and celebrate the important role of designated driver.

– Johnnie Walker, who ask drivers to take a pledge to never drink and drive, in return for discounted safe journeys home.

These initiatives are all completely funded by the partner and add significant value to the campaign.

We will continue to seek further partnerships with commercial brands who can extend the reach and impact of our campaigns.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2014-05-08.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will define the challenges referred to in the Department of Health’s April 2014 publication Living Well for Longer that they have laid before the drinks industry to reduce alcohol harm to health that is linked to premature avoidable deaths.

Earl Howe

In July 2013, the Government set a challenge to the alcohol industry to ask them to do more to reduce alcohol harm through the Public Health Responsibility Deal alcohol network. The challenge was formally set out in the 17 July 2013 Government’s response document Next steps following the consultation on delivering the Government’s alcohol strategy. It says:

“The Government believes that the alcohol industry can go further to show that voluntary action can deliver the significant changes needed. It is now challenging industry to take action in other areas, increasing their level of ambition and ownership of the issues, to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder and health harms, tackle the harmful effects of binge drinking and to support growth in local economies. This includes seeking rapid action in the following areas: supporting targeted local action; tackling the high strength or high volume products that can cause the most harm; promoting and displaying alcohol responsibly in shops; and improving education around drinking.”

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2014-06-11.

To ask the Leader of the House what steps he will take to facilitate the passage of Private Members’ Bills through the House of Lords.

Lord Hill of Oareford

Practice in recent years is well-established: Private Members’ Bills introduced in the House of Lords are offered Second Reading slots in the order in which they receive their First Reading. Second Readings for Private Members’ Bills introduced this session have been scheduled on Friday 27 June and Friday 18 July; further Second Readings will be arranged in due course. A ballot to determine the order in which Private Members’ Bills receive their First Reading will be introduced from the start of the new Parliament (3rd Report of the Procedure Committee, Session 2013-14).

For Bills that receive a Second Reading, formal consideration of their remaining stages will be arranged where no amendments are tabled and where the Member in charge so requests. Where Bills receive a Second Reading but require further substantive consideration of amendments, they will be competing for time with Private Members’ Bills that are received from the House of Commons and Private Members’ Bills introduced in this House that are still awaiting a Second Reading.

My noble friend the Government Chief Whip will endeavour to facilitate the progress of bills in each of those categories.