§ Mr. Torneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the proportion of income in percentage terms among persons over the age of 65 years spent on tobacco and alcoholic beverages; and what would be the effect in money terms if Excise duties were raised by 15.1 per cent.
§ Mr. Peter ReesI have been asked to reply.
Information is not available in the form requested. According to the family expenditure survey, in 1979 6 per cent. of the expenditure of households with heads aged 65 or over was on tobacco and alcoholic drink; but estimates of total expenditure on these items derived from the survey are substantially below national accounts figures. If Excise duties were increased by 15.1 per cent., a packet of 20 cigarettes would rise in price by approximately 6p, a pint of beer by 1½p, a bottle of whisky by 62p, and a bottle of wine by 11p. Reliable estimates of the effect this would have on the expenditure patterns of people aged 65 and over are not available.