Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases on the duty for non-draught alcohol on the scotch whisky industry.

The overall alcohol package within the recent Budget balances commercial pressure on the alcohol industry with the need to raise revenue to address the £22 Billion blackhole caused by the decisions of the previous government. Increases on duty are in line with inflation and under the previous Government, duty was increased by 10.1% following the duty review.

90% of Scotch Whisky is exported, paying no duty. To provide specific support to the Scotch Whisky industry, the government will reduce fees for geographical verification.