§ 3. Sir R. Glynasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual revenue since April, 1955, from the Excise duty on British wine; how much has been contributed to the total each year by cider and perry of an alcoholic strength of 15 degrees of proof or more; and what are the estimated yields in each case for 1960–61.
Mr. AmoryAs regards the revenue from the Excise duty on British wines, a number of figures are involved and I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Separate figures for cider and perry, strengthened to 15 degrees of proof or more, are not available.
§ Sir R. GlynIs my right hon. Friend aware that the firms producing cider or perry of 15 degrees of proof or more number less than half a dozen, and that their accounts have been published which show that the revenue paid on the strengthened cider or perry is less than £100,000 a year? Will my right hon. Friend agree that this amount, while of microscopic proportions if looked at on the national scale, is a heavy burden on the firms concerned?
Mr. AmoryI am not quite sure about "a heavy burden" because the firms have the alternative of either paying the duty or reducing the strength of their beverages below 15 degrees. Apart from the revenue returned, I have also to 187 consider the question of fair treatment in competition with British wines.
Following are the figures:Yield of the Excise duty on British wines since April, 1955:
Financial Year £ 1955–56 3,501,613 1956–57 3,574,225 1957–58 3,271,386 1958–59 3,152,697 1959–60 (provisional) 3,772,446 1960–61 (estimated) 3,410,000