§ Mr DrewTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he took from health experts before deciding to change the personal allowance for tobacco imports. [80008]
§ John HealeyWithin the European Union there are no personal allowances for tobacco imports. Since the creation of the Single Market in 1993 travellers have been able to bring back as much EU duty paid tobacco and alcohol as they wish as long as it is for their own use. The recent changes to indicative levels simply act as a guide to assist shoppers and make it easier for Customs officers to distinguish between the honest shopper and the illegal smuggler.
The new package of measures against tobacco smuggling, which I announced on 29 October, is designed to continue the successful crackdown on the illicit supply of cigarettes. It is this illegal supply of cheap, unregulated cigarettes which presents the principal threat to keeping the effective price of smoking high in support of the Government's health objectives.
793W For details of these measures I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire on 29 October, Official Report, column 686w.