Edited by John Gynn, Wednesday, 28 Nov 2012, 21:50
The Scotch Whisky Association are challenging the Scottish Parliament's legislation on minimum alcohol pricing.
In a recent court discussion both the U.K. government and the Scottish government had legal representatives to reply to the Scotch Whisky Association's concerns.
In particular the Scotch Whisky Association requested access to a European Commission Opinion on the Scottish Parliament legislation regarding minimum alcohol pricing.
Despite the E.U.'s promotion of transparency the U.K. Government lawyers (who presented the argument on behalf of both governments) argued that the document should remain confidential.
Lord Woolman allowed the Scotch Whisky Association sight of the Opinion but under strict condition that the contents were kept confidential. He noted some concern that it would be difficult to consider the matter properly if the E.U. Opinion was not made available to the Scotch Whisky Association.
So it seems quite an uncomfortable day when the B.B.C. report that the E.U. Opinon has been leaked anyway and that on the same day that the Scotch Whisky Association opens a display in the Holyrood lobby.
Whisky Leaks & Holyrood Dram[a]s?
The Scotch Whisky Association are challenging the Scottish Parliament's legislation on minimum alcohol pricing.
In a recent court discussion both the U.K. government and the Scottish government had legal representatives to reply to the Scotch Whisky Association's concerns.
In particular the Scotch Whisky Association requested access to a European Commission Opinion on the Scottish Parliament legislation regarding minimum alcohol pricing.
Despite the E.U.'s promotion of transparency the U.K. Government lawyers (who presented the argument on behalf of both governments) argued that the document should remain confidential.
Lord Woolman allowed the Scotch Whisky Association sight of the Opinion but under strict condition that the contents were kept confidential. He noted some concern that it would be difficult to consider the matter properly if the E.U. Opinion was not made available to the Scotch Whisky Association.
So it seems quite an uncomfortable day when the B.B.C. report that the E.U. Opinon has been leaked anyway and that on the same day that the Scotch Whisky Association opens a display in the Holyrood lobby.
Cheers!
http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/news-media/news/scotch-whisky-from-grain-to-glass-exhibition-opens/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20533189