Arrivals Duty Free at UK Airports Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Arrivals Duty Free at UK Airports

Baroness Foster of Oxton Excerpts
Thursday 30th March 2023

(1 year, 7 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Penn Portrait Baroness Penn (Con)
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My Lords, public health considerations are a consideration in the decision-making process. I am sure the noble Baroness will welcome both the changes that we have made to the system for alcohol duty, relating it to strength, and the decision in the Budget around uprating.

Baroness Foster of Oxton Portrait Baroness Foster of Oxton (Con)
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My Lords, Brexit has presented the travel industry with a wealth of opportunities, and the clear advantages of permitting duty-free purchase on arrival into UK airports would provide us with a level playing field along with our global competitors in this area. Will the Minister urge the Secretary of State and the Chancellor to reverse the current situation, which is damaging our tourist sector and our world-class retail sector?

Baroness Penn Portrait Baroness Penn (Con)
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My Lords, I have set out the position on duty free on arrival, but of course my noble friend is right that, following our exit from the EU, we have been able to introduce changes. One of those changes has been outbound duty-free sales of alcohol and tobacco for passengers travelling to the EU from Great Britain, including by rail and on board cruise ships. That is a new opportunity for retailers to offer that service.