The 2013 Government Decision which approved a minimum unit pricing regime envisaged its introduction in Northern Ireland and in this jurisdiction simultaneously in order to allay concerns about an impact on cross-border trade. Earlier this year, I wrote to my counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister Swann, on minimum unit pricing and we are in alignment on the importance of addressing the harms of alcohol misuse and of the potential for minimum unit pricing to reduce those harms. I look forward to further engagement and cooperation between us so that this important public health measure can be implemented as soon as possible.