Queen's consent sought for minimum drink pricing in Wales

The Crown is being asked to consent to the Welsh Government's minimum alcohol pricing legislation to avoid "anomalies" creeping through, Wales' health secretary has told AMs.

Vaughan Gething suggested the move was to avoid licensed premises owned by the Crown and Duchy of Cornwall being exempt.

He said there was at least one such premises selling alcohol.

Ministers hope a bill making the change will become law by summer 2018.

The law itself will not set a price but will allow ministers the ability to do so.

Mr Gething said: "We don't anticipate it being a particular problem."

"I'm sure that the Crown, following a good news day today, will not wish to have a particular problem on an area of legislation like this," he added, referring to the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The health secretary was giving evidence to the assembly's Constitutional and Legislative Affairs committee on Monday.

Prince Charles' private estate is known as the Duchy of Cornwall

Independent North Wales AM Nathan Gill asked Mr Gething why consent from the Crown, specifically the Queen and the Prince of Wales, was required for the bill.

"It's entirely possible that there will be Crown premises, or premises owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, that will also be licensed premises where sales will be made," Mr Gething replied.

"If the Crown and the Duchy of Cornwall are exempt then potentially those premises would not be subject to a minimum unit price.

"There is at least one Crown premises that is also selling alcohol.

"I'm sure the committee would like to have a fact finding trip there but it's to make sure that we don't end up having anomalies creep through."