Debates between Lord Ashton of Hyde and Lord Rennard during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Tobacco: Illicit Trade

Debate between Lord Ashton of Hyde and Lord Rennard
Tuesday 14th June 2016

(8 years ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text
Lord Ashton of Hyde Portrait Lord Ashton of Hyde
- Hansard - -

As far as the Treasury is concerned, it does not impose duty on e-cigarettes because tobacco is not involved and it has no plans to do so.

Lord Rennard Portrait Lord Rennard (LD)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, does the Minister think that the tobacco industry could ever be trusted to act against smuggling, given its proven record of grossly oversupplying certain markets where tobacco taxation is at a low level, particularly to encourage the smuggling of its own products into other countries such as the UK, where levels of tobacco taxation are rather higher, thereby depriving the Exchequer of more than £2 billion a year in revenue which it should be receiving?

Lord Ashton of Hyde Portrait Lord Ashton of Hyde
- Hansard - -

My Lords, it is not the tobacco industry’s duty to prevent smuggling. It can help the Government, but it is HMRC and Border Force which are there to control smuggling.