36. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent port wine, imported into this country from Portugal, will benefit by the tariff reductions being negotiated with the Outer Seven; to what extent, since port is regarded as an agricultural product and the wine duties as revenue duties, it will be automatically debarred from benefiting through this particular scheme; and whether he will recommend alternative action being taken to facilitate an increase of port exports from Portugal to Great Britain, having regard to the substantial benefits which would accrue to Anglo-Portuguese trade as a whole.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Anthony Barber)I can confirm that, for the reasons given by my 582 hon. Friend, port will not benefit by the tariff reductions proposed for the European Free Trade Association. In reply to the second part of the Question, the wine duties, like any other revenue duties, are a matter for the Budget and my hon. Friend will not expect me to comment.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs my hon. Friend aware that if port wine is not brought into the new arrangements with the Outer Seven it will cause a good deal of disappointment to port wine drinkers in this country? Will my hon. Friend bear in mind also that the duty on port wine has gone up by 375 per cent. since before the war? Will he ask his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to pay attention to that point in the Budget?
§ Mr. BarberI am sure my right hon. Friend will bear in mind the personal interest which my hon. Friend has in port wine.