§ Dr. Mabonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was yielded by the excise duty on potable spirits in the first six months of the current financial year; whether this fell short of his forecast, and if so, by how much; and whether he has now revised his forecast for the 12-month period.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply 15 January 1981, c. 626]: In the period from April to September 1980, revenue from the excise duty on spirits was about £320 million. It is contrary to normal practice to publish revised estimates of the forecast made at the time of the Budget.