HC Deb 23 April 1993 vol 223 c254W
Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be able to complete his assessment of the impact of the new duty-paid allowances on sales of beer in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Sir John Cope

I have been asked to reply.

We are monitoring the impact of cross-border shopping in the single market, but seasonal variations in beer sales and the novelty of cross-border shopping make it unsafe to draw firm conclusions for the moment. Customs are meeting the Brewers Society to discuss the society's statistics on duty-paid beer imports. We shall continue to keep a close watch on the position through surveys and other relevant information sources.