asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of losses estimated to be £1.5 billion per annum to the Government's revenues due to tobacco smuggling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will refrain from further increases in tobacco duty in his forthcoming Budget.[HL943]

Duty rates are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What connection there is between cheap smuggled tobacco products entering the British market and unregulated sales of such products to children under 16 years of age; and whether they intend to reverse their policy of imposing increases of 6 per cent. above inflation in tobacco duties in the forthcoming and subsequent Budgets. [HL944]

Research shows that most children who smoke say that they buy their cigarettes from shops. The Government believe that the majority of shopkeepers do try hard to avoid illegal sales of cigarettes to children. The Government do, however, intend to work with local enforcement agencies to ensure more effective compliance.Duty rates are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement.