Health Bill [HL]

Amendment 85 is the lead amendment of this group. The amendments would remove the power for the appropriate Minister to regulate price lists. I assume that the concern behind the amendments is to avoid burdensome regulation and to minimise the potential impact on business of removing tobacco displays by allowing shopkeepers free rein to display price lists. However, from previous experience, we consider that there is a very real risk that if displays are removed, the tobacco industry will next turn its attention to exploiting price lists as a means of promoting tobacco products. It has a long record in this respect—when one avenue of advertising is closed down, it opens up another one with huge imagination and very large resources. It is therefore vital that we are able to regulate price lists in order to avoid them being used to undermine the effectiveness of removing tobacco advertising and display. I can confirm that the Government will enable retailers to display a price and availability list detailing the tobacco products they carry. I can also confirm that we are committed to involving all the stakeholders in the development of regulations in order to minimise new burdens on business, as far as that is compatible with protecting public health. Department of Health officials are already talking to stakeholders such as the Association of Convenience Stores and the British Retail Consortium. We will conduct a full three-month formal public consultation on draft regulations after Royal Assent. The regulations will be subject to approval by affirmative resolution by Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales or the Northern Ireland Assembly, as appropriate. The aim is to have clear, plain price lists which will ensure that retailers are able to continue carrying out their business efficiently while protecting children and young people from the promotion of tobacco products and supporting those people who smoke but wish to quit. For these reasons, I am not able to accept the amendment and I hope that, with my assurances, the noble Baroness will withdraw it.