HC Deb 15 May 1995 vol 260 cc58-9W
Mr. Barron

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of sterling equivalent and/or percentage rate levied on(a) hand-rolling tobacco, (b) cigars, (c) other smoking or chewing tobacco in (i) excise duty and (ii) VAT or other sales tax in each country in (1) the European Union and (2) the Group of 7. [22966]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

The information for European Union member states is given in the table. The information, requested is not readily available for the G7 countries in the form required.

Hand-rolling tobacco (b) Cigars (c) Other smoking tibacco
(i) Excise Duty (ii) VAT (i) Excise Duty (ii) VAT (i) Excise Duty (ii) VAT
Italy 54.28 per cent. of RRP 19.00 per cent. 23 per cent. of RRP 19.00 per cent. 54 per cent. of RRP 19.00 per cent.
Luxembourg 31.50 per cent. of RRP 12.00 per cent. 10 per cent. of RRP 12.00 per cent. £14.54 per kg + 31.5 per Cent. of RRP12.00 per cent.
Netherlands £14.34+16.53 per cent. of RRP 17.50 percent. 5 per cent. of RRP 17.50 per cent. 16.1 per cent. of RRP 17.50 percent.
Portugal 30 per cent. of RRP 16.00 per cent. 26.21 per cent. of RRP 16.00 per cent. 30 per cent. of RRP 16.00 per cent.
Spain 30 per cent. of RRP 17.00 per cent. 10 per cent. of RRP 17.00 per cent. 20 per cent. of RRP 17.00 per cent.
Sweden £32.56 25.00 per cent. £29.68 per 1000 25.00 per cent. £6.36 per kg 25.00 per cent.
UK £85.94 per cent. 17.50 per cent. £85.61 per kg 17.50 per cent. £37.64 per kg 17.50 percent.

RRP—Recommended Retail Price.

Mr. Barron

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current proportion of the purchase price paid in taxation for an average(a) packet of 20 cigarettes, (b) 250g of hand-rolling tobacco, (c) packet of five cigars and (d) 250g of pipe tobacco; and what it has been in each year since 1965. [22964]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Information based on actual purchase prices for average cigarettes or other tobacco products is not readily available. Information in the form requested is given in the table based on manufacturers' recommended retail prices during the period 1965–95 for the current leading brands of tobacco products. I regret that the figures for hand-rolling tobacco, cigars and pipe tobacco between 1965 and 1976 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Total tax (Excise and VAT) as a percentage of retail price
Cigarettes HRT Cigars Pipe
1965 77
1966 77
1967 69
1968 70
1969 71
1970 71
1971 67
1972 66
1973 64
1974 70
1975 69
1976 70
1977 77 27 18 21
1978 70 72 44 68
1979 70 70 43 66
1980 71 69 44 65
1981 74 69 46 65
1982 75 72 51 68
1983 74 71 51 67
1984 75 70 50 65
1985 75 71 52 63
1986 75 71 50 61
1987 74 72 49 59
1988 75 71 49 58
1989 74 71 45 57
1990 74 69 44 55
1991 76 69 44 53
1992 76 71 47 55
1993 76 71 48 54
1994 76 69 47 53
1995 77 73 51 57

Using price at 1 Janury