HC Deb 19 July 1982 vol 28 cc42-3W
Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criterion is used by his Department to distinguish between malt whisky and blended whisky that is exported.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

The categories of whisky used in export statistics are those set out in the United Kingdom tariff and overseas trade classification and are "wholly malt", "wholly grain" and "other". They are based on normal trade practice which I understand to be that a "malt whisky" is one produced in a distillery using malt only and a "grain whisky" is one produced in a distillery using malt and other materials. A blended whisky consisting wholly of different malt whiskies should be classified as "wholly malt"; a blended whisky containing malt whiskies and grain whiskies should be classified as "other".