§ Mr. Craigenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue has been raised in taxes and duties on alcohol, betting and tobacco in each of the past 10 years; and if he will give the amounts raised by local authority rates in Scotland, England and Wales in total during the same period.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1981]: Information about receipts from the duties on alcohol, betting and tobacco are published in the report of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise for the year ended 31 March 1980. There is a copy in the Library of the House.
It is estimated that the revenue from VAT on alcoholic drinks and tobacco since the introduction of the tax was:
(£ million) Alcoholic drinks Tobacco 1973–74 250 125 1974–75 325 175 1975–76 350 200 1976–77 425 225 1977–78 475 275 1978–79 550 300 1979–80 950 450 The provision of any facilities for the placing of bets or the playing of any games of chance and the granting of a right to take part in a lottery are exempt from VAT under schedule 5, group 4 to the Finance Act 1972.
Amounts received from local authority rates are, in Scotland and in England and Wales, the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for the Environment respectively.