Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will consider mitigating the effects of the soft drinks industry levy on those manufacturers currently paying additional tax to use organic rather than conventional sugar.

The levy is designed to encourage companies to reformulate their products to tackle the overconsumption of sugar in the UK. Treating soft drinks producers who use organic sugar differently would be counter to the aims of the levy and would not encourage producers to reduce the amount of added sugar in their drinks. Health experts have told us that sugary soft drinks are a leading factor in the over-consumption of sugar, a source of “empty calories” and a specific driver of childhood obesity.

Organic soft drink producers can reduce their levy liability, or escape the charge altogether, by reducing the amount of added sugar in their drinks or reducing portion sizes for high sugar products.