Excise Duty (Sparkling Wine and Cider) (Hansard, 18 March 1998)

HC Deb 18 March 1998 vol 308 c646W 646W

§ Mr. Timms
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to equalise the excise duty levied upon low-strength sparkling wine and sparkling cider. [35340]

§ Dawn Primarolo
The Chancellor's Budget Statement announced a reduction of 20 per cent. in the duty on low-strength sparkling wine and a 20 per cent. increase in the duty on sparkling cider. I can confirm that these changes are an important step in the process of aligning the duty rates for these competing products and that the rates will be fully aligned in the next Budget.