Oral Answers to Questions

Maria Caulfield Excerpts

Tuesday 28th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

As I said, we are focusing the city deals on cities. If the Scottish Government wish to take forward projects to enable growth in Ayrshire, they are able to do so.

[Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con)]

11. What fiscal steps he is taking to support the British wine industry.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Jane Ellison)]

The UK’s wine industry benefited from a duty freeze at Budget 2015, which means that the price of a typical bottle of wine is 7p lower since the end of the wine duty escalator in 2014.

[Maria Caulfield]

The English wine industry is going from strength to strength, particularly in Sussex. I have five award-winning vineyards in my constituency. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association estimates that a 2% reduction in duty would not only boost the industry but generate an extra £368 million for the Treasury. Will that be considered in the Budget next week?

[Jane Ellison]

I heard those arguments directly from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, alongside representatives from the all-party parliamentary wine and spirit group, recently. The issue of English and Welsh wine was raised, and I listened carefully to their Budget representations.