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As a tax barrier tumbles
in Japan . . .
GET RID OF THE TAX BARRIER AT HOME, DISTILLERS URGE THE
GOVERNMENT |
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Scotch Whisky producers, gathering
in Glasgow today (Monday 20 April) for their Annual
Meeting, heard Scotch Whisky Association Chairman, John
McGrath, congratulate them on another record export year
in 1997 - with export sales up 5 per cent to £2.4
billion - and urge guest of honour, Secretary of State
for Scotland, Donald Dewar MP, to press the Government to
deliver equal tax treatment for Scotch Whisky and other
drinks in their home market, the UK, and to think again
about the abolition of duty free in Europe. |
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Mr McGrath told Mr Dewar: "We
receive unswerving support from the Government in
tackling trade barriers overseas. Amongst the most
important recent successes has been Japan, where - after
a hard fought campaign going back nearly 20 years - the
first tax cut came into effect in October, with a further
cut due next week. |
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"After all that, the price of
a bottle of Scotch will have come down by some £2.30, a
fine example for any Government, including our own. |
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"My firm message to the
Government today, therefore, is this: in addition to
supporting us on trade barriers world-wide, give us a new
tax structure in the UK. Continue the fight for fair tax
treatment in Europe. And until that is in place, think
again about the abolition of duty free shops which -
since tax is levied at the same rate for all: zero -
provide the only genuine Single Market in Europe for
alcoholic drinks, where Scotch Whisky competes on a level
playing field with wine." |
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Mr McGrath also told the Secretary
of State that the Scotch Whisky industry looked forward
to working with the forthcoming Scottish Parliament,
which he confidently expected would provide a new and
effective lobby for Scotland and for Scotch, both at
Westminster and in Brussels, to secure the position
of Scotch as Scotland’s foremost traditional
industry. |
