Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to exempt domestic wine producers from wine duty rates.

The wine industry makes a vital contribution to our economy and society. However, an exemption from alcohol duty that applied only to domestic wine producers is likely to be inconsistent with the UK’s legal obligations. 

Any cut, or even a freeze, to alcohol duty represents a cost to the Exchequer. The baseline assumption is that alcohol duty will be increased annually, so that it does not fall in real terms

As with all taxes, the Government welcomes representations from stakeholders to inform policy development.