asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Imported Tobacco Products Advisory Council and member companies requesting a period of credit from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on imported tobacco products; and whether he will make a statement.

The Imported Tobacco Products Advisory Council has had a meeting with Customs and Excise, and a number of its member companies have made representations through hon. Members requesting a period of deferment for payment of tobacco duty. My right hon. Friend considered carefully before his Budget whether some measure of duty deferment should be introduced, but concluded that this would be incompatible with his Budget strategy.