HC Deb 30 July 1997 vol 299 cc349-50W
Mr. Paterson

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the excise duty on beer as a proportion of the price of beer in each year from 1974–75 to 1997–98. [11259]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 29 July 1997]: The table following shows excise duty as a percentage of the price of a pint of bitter in licensed premises, for years up to 1997.

A forecast for 1998 is not available.

Years Duty as percentage of price
1974–75 28.1
1975–76 26.2
1976–77 25.0
1977–78 23.1
1978–79 20.8
1979–80 20.7
1980–81 24.7
1981–82 25.1
1982–83 24.8
1983–84 23.3
1984–85 23.2
1985–86 22.1
1986–87 21.3
1987–88 20.8
1988–89 19.5
1989–90 18.9
1990–91 18.1
1991–92 17.7
1992–93 17.6
1993–94 16.2
1994–95 16.1
1995–96 15.6
1996–97 15.1

The figures relate to April/May for years up to and including 1993 other than 1979, where the July price has been used. From 1994, the percentage relate to January each year.