Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Written Statement UIN HCWS1171 on Upgraded Free Trade Agreement with the Republic of Korea: negotiation update, what impact the deal will have on the a) salmon and b) whisky industry.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The upgraded FTA secures several provisions to reduce administrative burden and costs for UK businesses.
It streamlines clearance processes for the release of perishable goods like Salmon and ensures Scottish salmon raised from imported seedstock qualify for tariff-free access to the Republic of Korea, commitments welcomed by the Scottish salmon industry.
The FTA also locks in our Geographical Indication protection for Scotch Whisky, preventing the sale of fake Whisky in Republic of Korea. New rules of origin provisions will make it easier to export via distribution hubs without being charged tariffs, a key facilitation welcomed by the industry.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue the UK Government anticipates it will obtain from the Sprits Excise Duty on Scotch Whisky, Energy Profits Levy and Agricultural Property Relief from Scotland by the end of this Parliament.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The ONS publish “Country and regional public sector finances revenue tables” which includes estimated breakdowns of revenue raised in Scotland from alcohol duty and Energy Profits Levy.
HMRC also publishes Inheritance Tax Liabilities statistics. Tables 12.8 and 12.9 break down the estimated number of taxpaying estates and tax paid by UK nation and region, as well as UK Parliamentary Constituency.
The OBR does not produce forecasts for tax receipts split by individual nations within the UK. Data is not collected on spirits duty paid on Scotch Whisky specifically. Information from estates making claims for Agricultural Property Relief from Inheritance Tax is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the drinks industry about the potential impact of spirits taxation on pub profitability.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Alcohol duty is charged at the point of production or importation of drinks, and is therefore not generally paid directly by pubs.
Further, the United Kingdon has an international obligation under WTO rules to treat imported and domestic products fairly. A duty-based tax incentive that applied only to domestic spirits producers is likely to be inconsistent with these legal obligations.
To support spirits producers, the Government has:
Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered introducing tax incentives for pubs that promote UK spirits producers.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Alcohol duty is charged at the point of production or importation of drinks, and is therefore not generally paid directly by pubs.
Further, the United Kingdon has an international obligation under WTO rules to treat imported and domestic products fairly. A duty-based tax incentive that applied only to domestic spirits producers is likely to be inconsistent with these legal obligations.
To support spirits producers, the Government has:
Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will hold discussions with his US counterpart on removing the 10% levy on Scottish whisky during forthcoming discussions on the UK-US trade deal.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We have already secured preferential access for Scotch whisky to the US market compared with other major economies and continue to have discussions on getting the best possible deal for all UK businesses and sectors.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support (a) small and (b) independent distillers wishing to export.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DBT negotiates new free trade agreements, such as the UK-India FTA, and seeks to remove market access barriers for UK distillers. We recently agreed a Geographic Indicator for Scotch Whisky in Argentina. DBT provides direct export support via business.gov.uk, including access to the Business Academy and international market teams. This November, DBT will lead a landmark Spirits trade mission to New Delhi and Mumbai, offering UK distillers a strategic gateway into India’s fast-growing alcoholic drinks market. Distillers of all sizes can access UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, which offers a wide range of products to support exporters and export-ready businesses.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of excise duty rates on the competitiveness of (a) UK and (b) European distillers; and what fiscal steps she is taking to help support the domestic distilling industry.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK spirits industry makes a vital contribution to our economy and society, with Scotch Whisky remaining the UK’s most successful food and drink export enjoyed by consumers across the globe.
UK alcohol duty is not charged on exports.
There is significant variation in alcohol taxation policy amongst European countries. The World Health Organization recently published a comparison of alcohol taxes across the WHO European Region, which can be found here: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289061940 .
The UK’s alcohol taxes are generally lower than Sweden and Norway’s, and comparable to the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Regarding support for the spirits industry, I refer the hon member to the answer that I gave to PQ UIN 80562
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury in response to the Question from the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey on 9 September 2025, Official Report, column 724, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of pub closures in 2025 so far.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor’s decision at Autumn Budget 2024 to cut duty for draught products, whilst uprating alcohol duty in line with inflation for main rate products balanced the need to fund public services, disincentivise harmful alcohol consumption, and support moderate, responsible drinkers with the cost of living.
This kept the tax on non-draught products stable in real terms, which the Government does not expect to have any significant macroeconomic impacts. The Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) for this decision is available here:
To support spirits producers, the Government has:
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury in response to the Question from the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey on 9 September 2025, Official Report, column 724, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising spirits duty on job losses in the hospitality sector.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor’s decision at Autumn Budget 2024 to cut duty for draught products, whilst uprating alcohol duty in line with inflation for main rate products balanced the need to fund public services, disincentivise harmful alcohol consumption, and support moderate, responsible drinkers with the cost of living.
This kept the tax on non-draught products stable in real terms, which the Government does not expect to have any significant macroeconomic impacts. The Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) for this decision is available here:
To support spirits producers, the Government has:
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury in response to the Question from the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey on 9 September 2025, Official Report, column 724, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of Treasury receipts of spirits duty in the last year.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor’s decision at Autumn Budget 2024 to cut duty for draught products, whilst uprating alcohol duty in line with inflation for main rate products balanced the need to fund public services, disincentivise harmful alcohol consumption, and support moderate, responsible drinkers with the cost of living.
This kept the tax on non-draught products stable in real terms, which the Government does not expect to have any significant macroeconomic impacts. The Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) for this decision is available here:
To support spirits producers, the Government has: