§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many specialist tobacconists there are in the UK, defined as a shop selling tobacco products, more than half of whose sales on the premises in question derive from the sales of cigars, snuff, pipe tobacco and smoking accessories; and what proportion of total UK sales as a percentage of turnover are sold through these shops. [20165]
§ Ruth Kelly[holding answer 3 December 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Kevin Barron, dated 30 November 2001:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the number of specialist tobacconists in the UK, and the proportion of total UK sales through these shops. I am replying in his absence (20133).The number of businesses classified to retail sale of tobacco products, as their principal activity, is 11,760. These businesses account for 10.7% of the total UK turnover from sales of tobacco-related products.