HL Deb 18 January 1972 vol 327 cc5-6
THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what their policy is in regard to British-grown wine in the event of this country's joining the Common Market and whether they will contradict the reports that they have agreed to forbid British wine from being sold as wine.]

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, wine from grapes grown in this country is not affected by the agreement in Brussels about the naming of certain products. Wine of this kind falls within the scope of the Community's wine regulations and producers can rest assured that they can continue to call their product "wine". The agreement on names relates to products for which the Community has accepted the British proposition that they should be regarded as falling outside the wine regulations. From this acceptance has followed the agreement to the effect that the word "wine" will not be used in the descriptions of certain products where this conflicts with Community rules. A transitional period of reasonable length is to apply to the United Kingdom market to allow time for the change to be made.

THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for his reply, which will give great satisfaction to the producers of wine in this country, may I ask him this question? In view of the fact that we have to pay duty of 25p a bottle in this country, while in France only a penny is paid and in Germany, except for sparkling wines, no duty is paid at all, will not Her Majesty's Government give some concession to this struggling and very promising industry?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, with regard to what Her Majesty's Government will do, of course I cannot say anything in advance of what my right honourable friend may say this year, next year or some other year, in another place. But with regard to the Community as a whole there are, I believe, long-term ideas that there might be harmonisation of duty; but no timetable is known and nothing has been decided as to the levels.

Forward to