HC Deb 22 March 1962 vol 656 cc49-50W
27. Mr. Holt

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the revenue received for the year 1960–61 from tobacco duties under the following heads, namely, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and cigars.

Mr. Barber

Virtually all the tobacco revenue comes from the duty charged on the raw leaf when it is withdrawn from bond, and does not vary according to the use to which the leaf may subsequently be put. But I understand that of the total weight of manufactured tobacco consumed in this country about 93 per cent. is accounted for by cigarettes (including hand-rolled), 6 per cent. by pipe tobacco and 1 per cent. by cigars and snuff.

Sir C. Osborne

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the report on smoking by the Royal College of Physicians and the consequent demand that Her Majesty's Government should take steps to persuade smokers to abandon their habit and to dissuade nonsmokers from taking it up, what new sources of revenue he now has in mind to replace the £825 million produced last year by the tobacco tax; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Barber

The question raised by my hon. Friend is a Budgetary matter on which I cannot now comment.