Enterprise Support

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland – in the House of Commons am 1:39 pm ar 24 Mawrth 1999.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Adam Ingram Adam Ingram Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office 1:39, 24 Mawrth 1999

I cannot answer for Treasury Ministers. I do not know what applications have been made to them. The matter falls within my remit in one sense, but excise duties are a matter for the Treasury, not for the Northern Ireland Office. My understanding is that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met representatives on the issue, and we continue to meet at official level. It is not that we are unconcerned about what has happened, but we want to ensure that any measures that we take to stop the illegal activity have maximum impact. We also want to examine the disparities between the pricing structures north and south of the border.