Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to halt the planned increases in wine and spirits duty.
As for every Finance Bill measure, HMRC provided a Tax Impact Information Note which included an impact assessment of alcohol duty changes. This can be found online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-duty-rate-changes/alcohol-duty-rate-changes
The government keeps all taxes under review at fiscal events, and we will consider this issue carefully as part of the Autumn Budget process. Any changes to alcohol duties need to take account of a wide range of factors, including the Exchequer impact, the impact on businesses and consumers, public health and the distributional impact of reform.
Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. We will seek to achieve the right deal for Britain and for the EU.