asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current annual value to the Exchequer from whisky duty.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 29th November 1976.—[Vol. 921, c. 45.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual loss to the Exchequer if duty on whisky were paid when the whisky was sold and not, as at present, when whisky comes out of bond.

The loss to the Exchequer in the first year of the change would be around £150 million if the duty on all spirits were paid at the time of retail sale and not as now, on delivery from bonded warehouse. EEC obligations would rule out differential treatment of whisky and other spirits in respect of time of duty payment.