§ Mr. Peter Bottomley:To ask the Prime Minister if he will estimate the consumption effects and health outcomes of the abolition of duty free imports of tobacco, alcohol and other goods with the EU. [70056]
§ The Prime MinisterThe decision to end duty free sales within the European Union was taken by the Council of Finance Ministers in 1991, with the support of the Conservative Government. It was a fiscal measure deemed necessary for the effective operation of the Single Market and took no account of levels of consumption or health issues.