I wish to advise the Deputy that no formal engagement has taken place with the Scottish Government relating to their Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill 2010 — though there has been some exchange of information on the matter of minimum pricing of alcohol in the context of the work of the British-Irish Council Sectoral Group on the Misuse of Drugs.
A National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group was established in 2009. It is examining the development of policy to deal with a wide range of key issues relating to the supply, pricing, availability and marketing of alcohol — including the issue raised by the Deputy — along with measures for the policy areas of prevention strategies, treatment, rehabilitation, alcohol and substance dependency research and information. The report of the Steering Group is close to completion; I expect to receive proposals in the coming months and I will then brief my colleagues in Government on these.