MORAY MP LOBBIES TREASURY ON WHISKY
Posted on Wednesday, February 28 2007
ROBERTSON CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORTMoray SNP MP Angus Robertson and other parliamentarians have today(Wednesday) lobbied the Treasury in promotion of the Scotch whisky industry ahead of the impending UK budget.Mr. Robertson, the Vice-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Whisky Industry Group whose constituency contains more than half of all of Scotland's Malt whisky distilleries, met with Economic Secretary to the Treasury John Healy MP.He pressed the Treasury for a further freeze in spirits duty saying that this would "support industry investment and competitiveness".Speaking after the Treasury meeting Angus Robertson MP said:"The whisky sector is one of Scotland's key industries both in export, earnings and employment terms, and the Treasury has a responsibility to support it."Recent statistics have shown that international demand for Scotch whisky is growing, however the UK market is very fragile and a further freeze in spirits duty would support industry investment and competitiveness."This is at a time when distillers face rising energy and raw material costs and another narrowing of the duty differential with other alcoholic drinks would be a welcome further step towards a fairer alcohol duty regime."The average price of spirits remains at or above the revenue maximising point; any rise in spirits duty would be counterproductive from a revenue perspective."Treasury Minister John Healy pledged to look closely at the case being made by me and colleagues from the All Party Parliamentary Whisky Industry Group. Hopefully the government will deliver in the budget."ENDS
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