§ Mrs. Jacqui Lait (Beckenham)On the day that tobacco duties rise and we look forward to an increase in duty on alcohol—which will reduce revenues to the Treasury, undermine the rule of law and subvert the health policies of reducing the consumption of tobacco and of alcohol—it is a great honour to present to the House of Commons the petition of 1,000 signatures from Independent Retail News, store owners and customers. The petition reads:
Declares that the bootlegging of hand-rolling tobacco, cigarettes and alcohol has reached crisis levels.Honest shop owners are being driven out of business by bootleggers, who are also robbing the Exchequer of £1 billion per year.The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons should urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer to work with HM Customs and Excise in taking further measures to ensure the relevant legislation prohibiting this illegal trade is vigorously enforced.And the petitioners remain, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.