HC Deb 13 May 1977 vol 931 cc630-1W
Mr. Wakeham

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of duty on English grown wines; and what is the equivalent duty paid by wine growers in the other member States of the EEC on wine grown for domestic consumption.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The rates of excise duty and of VAT on table wine in each member State of the EEC are as follows:

Duty per gallon of Table Wine Rate of VAT
(£*) (per cent.)
United Kingdom 3.25 8
Belgium 0.88 25
Denmark 3.31 15
France 0.05 17.6
Ireland 2.30 10
Italy Nil 14
Luxembourg 0.44 5
Netherlands 0.89 18
West Germany Nil 11
* Converted at exchange rates on 10th May 1977.

Mr. Wakeham

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of duty on home-produced wine expressed as a percentage of the duty on home-produced beer in each of the member States of the EEC.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

There is no recognised and uniquely fair way of comparing beer and wine. The following table shows the excise duty charged per degree of alcohol on table wine as a percentage of the excise duty on beer calculated on the same basis. In all EEC countries VAT is also charged.

United Kingdom 152
Belgium 134
Denmark 75
France 67
Ireland 56
Italy Nil
Luxembourg 86
Netherlands 134
West Germany Nil