To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to protect the interests of the British cider industry from proposals made by the European Commission.

[holding answer 17 February 1992]: Current Commission proposals place cider with either still or sparkling wine for taxation purposes. The proposals have yet to come before the Council of Ministers and their adoption would require unanimity. The Government have already assured the United Kingdom cider industry that we will support their case for treating cider and perry as a separate tax category.