Wines and Spirits Jobs
16th March 2010
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown asks what the Government plans to do to help the wines and spirits sector where the 35% rise in tax and duty has led to the loss of thousands of jobs.
Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) (Con): Do the Government accept that the staggering rise of 35 per cent. in tax and duty on wine and spirits has had any connection with the loss of 25,500 jobs, and 2,000 jobs in that sector? What plans do the Government have to help that important sector of the economy?
The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry): I do not want to pre-empt any announcements that will be made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in the Budget next week. We recognise that alcohol duties play an important part in fiscal consolidation, but we also recognise that the alcohol industry creates many jobs. We will get that balance right.