The Government has failed to lead by instance on open data

The delayed Sheffield Review set out that a ban on below-expense income (BBCS), which prevents the sale of alcohol under the expense of duty and VAT, would reduce all round consumption by just 4 hundredths of a single per cent (.04%). Much more importantly in damaging drinkers by only .08%.

Comparing the results on wellness and crime of a 45p minimum unit cost (MUP) and BBCS, their appraisal was stark. It would lead to 23,700 fewer hospital admissions per year with MUP in contrast with a reduction of just 500 with BBCS. The corresponding figures for reduction in crime had been 34,200 versus 900.

I experimented with repeatedly in the run-up to the policy announcement on July 17, a cynically judged date just as Parliament went into recess, to obtain a copy of the report but was capable to see it only minutes ahead of the Statement in the Commons by the then crime prevention minister, Jeremy Browne (a total misnomer in the light of the policy determination that he was about to announce).

Is this the way for government to lead by instance on the need for open data and what message does it send to the NHS, academia and Pharma on transparency?

At a time when overall health professionals are instructed to decrease avoidable early mortality via the NHS mandate it can’t be right that such a essential public wellness measure has been withdrawn. Whatever measures that communities, councils, the police and the well being services put in area to tackle issue drinking, they will always be undermined when alcohol can be offered for following to nothing.

As the delayed Sheffield study reminds us, BBCS will nevertheless let the sale of cider at much less than 10p per unit. The Government need to assessment the use of information and lead by illustration.

Dr Sarah Wollaston is the Conservative MP for Totnes. She is a member of the Health Select Committee

The Government has failed to lead by instance on open data