Policing and Crime Bill

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in what was a useful short debate. I certainly thank the noble Earl, Lord Onslow, for his historic perspective. I had gone back only as far as 1980 with the NHS's own figures that show that alcohol was 75 per cent more affordable in 2008 than in 1980. That means it has effectively halved in price over only 30 years, and those 30 years were when binge drinking was developing. There is undoubtedly a link. My noble friend Lord Avebury has been working on this issue and pressing the Government on it for many years. No doubt he will disappointed, as I am, that the Minister, although sympathetic, has not said that further research will be undertaken in this area. I hope we will hear from him about that in due course. Perhaps by Report he will know what actual further research will result from the Sheffield study. I am honoured and flattered to be aided and abetted by the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale. I understand why he does not like the independent board. We share with the Conservative Party a dislike of quangos. However, the difficulty is that whichever party introduces an across-the-board tax increase, everybody disregards the health aspect and says that it is just because the Government want more tax. There is an argument to be had both ways and possibly the end justifies the means. This is an area we will return to. Once again, I thank everyone who spoke and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 116A withdrawn. Amendments 117 to 119 not moved.