Consultation on Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) increase 2024: FOI release

Information requested

1 - All consultation undertaken regarding MUP increase 2024?

2 - Proof that key stakeholders were consulted and there views were considered within this consultation?

3 - Evidence of where this increased stealth tax will go?

4 - Evidence behind the 30 percent increase despite inflation sitting at 4 percent?

5 - Evidence pertaining to the 13 percent fewer deaths cited in Holyrood?

6 - All information pertaining to Michael Mathesons Ipad data breach including the findings of all investigations as they have concluded?

7 - All evidence of Humza Yousafs input to the MUP debate + Michael Matheson scandal.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reasons why we don’t have the information are explained below.

With regards to questions 1 and 2, all of the information you have requested is available below. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain the information below, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. Details of consultative activity undertaken is:

• Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 - operation and effect 2018 to 2023: report,
• Alcohol - Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) - continuation and future pricing: consultation analysis,
• Alcohol - Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) - continuation and future pricing consultation: Scottish Government response and the
• Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) Continuation and future pricing: Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment.

These documents outline all the consultation undertaken regarding the decision on whether to continue minimum unit pricing (MUP), as well as the future pricing of MUP, including information on the stakeholders who were consulted.

With regards to question 3, this is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The policy aim of MUP is to reduce health harms caused by alcohol consumption by setting a floor price below which alcohol cannot be sold and is not, therefore a tax. The Scottish Government does not, therefore, hold the information requested. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

With regards to question 4, please find the following links that set out this information:

• Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) Continuation and future pricing: Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment and the
• University of Sheffield report, New modelling of alcohol pricing policies, alcohol consumption and harm in Scotland - An adaptation of the Sheffield Tobacco and Alcohol Policy Model, which was published in September 2023.

With regards to question 5, all of the information you have requested is available and I would refer you to the Public Health Scotland report, Evaluating the impact of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Scotland: A synthesis of the evidence, which was published in June 2023. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

With regards to question 6 and your request for evidence in relation to Michael Matheson in question 7, I enclose a copy of some of the information you have requested, this is available at Annex A, B and C (attached separately). The Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have asked for because the Scottish Government is not responsible for the subject, as it relates to the use of a Scottish Parliament iPad. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact the Scottish Parliament, at info@parliament.scot, who may be able to help you. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

With regards to question 7, and your request for all evidence of Humza Yousaf’s input to the MUP debate. I have interpreted this as the statement made to Parliament by the Deputy First Minister on 8 February 2024 relating to minimum unit pricing of alcohol. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400398097 - Information released - Annex A - C

File type

4 page PDF

File size

324.7 kB