Part of Finance Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 6:15 pm ar 19 Mehefin 2012.
Mr Bone, I regret that I did not say at the outset that it continues to be a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, as we draw to the final period of today’s sitting. On one of your rulings earlier, I do not know whether you wanted to see the downfall of the Whip or the downing of a pint as you get us quicker to the end of today’s sitting and closer to the football.
My role today is to say what the clause does. It increases the duty rate charged on beer, cider, wine and spirits by 2% above inflation with effect from 26 March this year. Together with VAT, the pre-announced increases from the previous Government are equivalent to 3p on the price of a pint of beer; 2p on a litre of cider; 11p on a bottle of wine; and 41p on a bottle of spirits.