HC Deb 12 March 1957 vol 566 cc161-2W
96. Major Beamish

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the duty per gallon on port wine each year since 1938, together with the annual revenue collected and the approximate annual domestic consumption of this wine; and whether, in view of the strongly held opinion that this wine that used to be widely enjoyed here has been overtaxed, he will give sympathetic consideration to a reduction in the duty on it.

Lieut. - Colonel Bromley - Davenport

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the duty per gallon on port wine for each year since 1938, together with the annual revenue collected and the approximate annual consumption of such wine; and, in view of the fact that a large amount of British capital and enterprise is involved in the port wine trade, what steps he proposes to take to improve the situation with regard to the import of port into Great Britain.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The rates of duty were set out in my Written Answers to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) on 28th February. The other figures are given below. As to the last part of the Question, I cannot anticipate the Budget.

IMPORTATIONS OF PORT WINES NET QUANTITIES AND RETAINED FOR CONSUMPTION AND REVENUE RECEIPTS, FOR THE YEARS 1937–38 TO 1955–56.
Financial year Quantities retained for consumption Net Revenue receipts
Gallons £
1937–38 4,005,830 1,602,871
1938–39 3,778,112 1,511,636
1939–40 3,753,376 1,864,794
1940–41 3,709,837 2,772,752
1941–42 1,843,334 1,475,509
1942–43 705,967 962,171
1943–44 453,961 762,603
1944–45 388,087 660,197
1945–46 463,525 788,562
1946–47 1,608,518 2,735,267
1947–48 1,733,665 3,155,231
1948–49 1,421,696 3,544,396
1949–50 1,819,197 4,544,391
1950–51 1,836,964 4,589,062
1951–52 1,653,441 4,134,157
1952–53 1,548,024 3,866,801
1953–54 1,618,505 4,044,958
1954–55 1,624,920 4,057,311
1955–56 1,638,882 4,091,454