§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the differences between the excise duty on Scotch whisky and on still wine.
§ Mr. DorrellThe duty relativities between alcoholic drinks are reviewed each year, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's Budget statement.
§ Sir Michael NeubertTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the retail prices index currently relates to the cost of alcoholic drinks; how much of this is attributable to the price of Scotch whisky; and on what specific assumptions of whisky consumption by different income groups this is based.
§ Mr. Nelson[holding answer 15 December 1992]: The weight for alcoholic drinks in the retail prices index for use in 1992 is 80 parts per thousand. Of this, the price indicators for Scotch and other types of whisky together account for 8.1 parts per thousand as part of the selection of indicators taken to represent wines and spirits generally.
The weights for the RPI are based mainly on the family expenditure survey. No specific assumptions are made concerning consumption by different income groups, although adjustments are made for known under-recording according to data on receipts of duty collected by HM Customs and Excise.