HC Deb 31 July 1997 vol 299 cc445-6W

Mr. Swinney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce banding for the tobacco products duty on cigarettes related to their nicotine content; and if he will make a statement. [11313]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 30 July 1997]: EC law requires that all cigarettes sold within a EU member state shall be subject to the same rate of excise duty. It would not therefore be possible to band tobacco products duty in this way.