§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the tax revenue implications of the target to reduce the consumption of cigarettes by at least 40 per cent. by the year 2000 in the Department of Health White Paper, "Health of the Nation".
§ Sir John CopeAs part of the "Health of the Nation" commitment to reduce the consumption of cigarettes, the Government have undertaken at least to maintain the real level of taxes on tobacco products. A 40 per cent. fall in consumption of tobacco products would produce a 40 per cent. fall in the tobacco excise duty base. For the present real level of excise duties on tobacco products, this would represent an annual loss to the Exchequer of around £2.4 billion, in 1992–93 prices.