Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 25 October 2023 to Question 203613 on Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward its formal evaluation of alcohol duty increases in the context of consumer price inflation for alcohol.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has undertaken the biggest reform of alcohol duties for over 140 years and has introduced a new, simplified alcohol duty system based on the common-sense principle of taxing alcohol by strength.
The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the reforms and will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023.
The Government thinks it is right to allow time to understand the impacts on the alcohol market and for HMRC to gather useful and accurate data with which to evaluate. However, the Government engages regularly with stakeholders to understand market conditions and keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department gathers on the potential impact of alcohol duty increases on SME (a) winemakers and (b) spirits producers.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the latest changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-rate-changes and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reform-of-the-alcohol-duty-system/reform-of-alcohol-duty-rates-and-reliefs
The Government has undertaken the biggest reform of alcohol duties for over 140 years and has introduced a new, simplified alcohol duty system based on the common-sense principle of taxing alcohol by strength. The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the reforms and will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023. This will allow time to understand the impacts on the alcohol market, and for HMRC to gather useful and accurate data with which to evaluate the effects of the reform.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which representatives of the drinks industry (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have met since 1 August 2023.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Treasury ministers 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 meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at the link below.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the alcohol duty increases announced in August 2023 on inflation.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the latest changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-rate-changes and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reform-of-the-alcohol-duty-system/reform-of-alcohol-duty-rates-and-reliefs
The Government has undertaken the biggest reform of alcohol duties for over 140 years and has introduced a new, simplified alcohol duty system based on the common-sense principle of taxing alcohol by strength. The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the reforms and will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023. This will allow time to understand the impacts on the alcohol market, and for HMRC to gather useful and accurate data with which to evaluate the effects of the reform.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the August 2023 changes to alcohol duty on inflation.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the latest changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-in-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-uprating
The Government will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes. Which came into place 1 August 2023. This will allow time to understand the impacts in the alcohol market and for HMRC to gather useful and accurate data with which to evaluate.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will meet the UK Spirits Alliance to discuss the rate of duty on spirits.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government consulted extensively and took account of evidence from a wider range of stakeholders, including spirits producers, and a variety of data sets as part of the tax policy making process on the new alcohol duty system. The response to the final consultation can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1145222/M5209_M5348_Alcohol_Duty_Review_consultation_response_FINAL.pdf.
HM Treasury keeps all taxes, including alcohol duties, under review and welcomes stakeholders' views as part of the annual Budget representations process. Guidance on submitting Budget representations is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autumn-statement-2023-representations/guidance-for-submitting-autumn-statement-2023-representations-to-the-treasury
Stakeholders can make representations, which form part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s considerations.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Brexit Pubs Guarantee on the price of spirits in pubs.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the latest changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-in-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-uprating
The Government will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes. Which came into place 1 August 2023. This will allow time to understand the impacts in the alcohol market and for HMRC to gather useful and accurate data with which to evaluate.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times he met spirits distillers to discuss the August 2023 changes to alcohol duty.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government consulted extensively and took account of evidence from a wider range of stakeholders, including spirits producers, and a variety of data sets as part of the tax policy making process on the new alcohol duty system. The response to the final consultation can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1145222/M5209_M5348_Alcohol_Duty_Review_consultation_response_FINAL.pdf.
HM Treasury keeps all taxes, including alcohol duties, under review and welcomes stakeholders' views as part of the annual Budget representations process. Guidance on submitting Budget representations is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autumn-statement-2023-representations/guidance-for-submitting-autumn-statement-2023-representations-to-the-treasury
Stakeholders can make representations, which form part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s considerations.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the authored article entitled What the PM’s new approach to Net Zero means for you, published by the Prime Minister's Office on 20 September 2023, whether he had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on proposals for a tax on meat; and whether he planned to bring forward legislative proposals to implement such a tax before 20 September 2023.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Prime Minister has confirmed a meat tax will not be introduced under this government.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to protect people from credit and loan scams; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make it a requirement for lenders to request ID from customers before credit can be issued.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for regulating the consumer credit market. FCA rules dictate that firms (including those offering credit cards) must have adequate policies and procedures in place to counter the risk that they might be used in financial crime. Furthermore, firms must ensure that the systems and controls monitoring these are subject to regular assessment.
Firms are also required by law to verify someone’s identity when they establish a business relationship with them. This includes when opening a credit account such as a credit card. Firms are required to take a proportionate approach commensurate with their assessment of the risk. Each firm will have their own policies on identification, customer due diligence and on the circumstances in which additional security checks should be undertaken. Firms are assisted in making such policies through industry produced guidance. The government has also published a Good Practice Guide for firms on how to prove and verify someone’s identity, which can be accessed here: