§ Mr. Lofthouseasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the implications for employment in the tobacco and associated industries of an increase in taxation of 5p, 10p, 15p, 20p, and 25p, respectively, per packet of 20 cigarettes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeIncreases of this kind could be expected to lead to reductions in the consumption of cigarettes and thus to a lower level of production for the home market. But taxation of cigarettes is only one of a number of factors involved and it is not possible to determine the precise effects of such increases on employment in the tobacco and associated industries.