Examination of Witnesses (Questions 60-68)
RT HON
ALISTAIR DARLING,
MR DAVID
CAIRNS AND
DR JIM
WILDGOOSE
19 OCTOBER 2005
Q60 Chairman: Secretary of State,
are you able to bring the Committee up to date on the latest thinking
on strip stamps on bottles of spirit? Are they going to accept
this Committee's recommendations that a fiscal stamp is incorporated
into the back label of a bottle of spirit rather than having a
strip stamp over the closure of the bottle?
Mr Darling: My recollection is
that there have been very useful discussions between now HM Revenue
& Customs and the whisky industry which are reaching a conclusion.
I am afraid I cannot tell you the precise nature of it, but if
you want I will either write to you or get the Chancellor to write
to you.[11]
Q61 Chairman: Yes, that would be very
helpful if you can ask the Chancellor.
Mr Darling: I think David is saying
there is a memorandum of understanding
Mr Cairns: I met with the Scotch
Whisky Association a few weeks and they were very happy with the
progress of the discussions. They thought they had made very significant
progress in terms of finding a way to meet the concerns of the
Customs and also their own concerns and today they have signed
a memorandum of understanding with the Treasury, not specifically
about strip stamps but about the whole issue of smuggling that
gave rise to the strip stamps. I think perhaps the controversy,
if you like, that came out of the strip stamps' debate has opened
up a great deal of dialogue and we are addressing what both sides
of the industry and the Government perceives to be a common problem
and, as I say, the memorandum was signed in the Treasury today.
Q62 Chairman: I hope Secretary of
State and Minister, you appreciate the industry really desperately
wants this because it is a lot of jobs we are talking about and
the industry's future.
Mr Darling: It is fair to say
that we are seeking to form a view with the Scotch industry but
I think the situation we have got to now is satisfactory.
Q63 Mr MacNeil: Just a brief question.
Did you look at putting a mark in the glass itself as opposed
to strip stamps to identify the bottle's origin or where the bottle
was meant to go?
Mr Darling: It is the Revenue
& Customs that have the lead in this and not the Scotland
Office. Basically over the years both sides have looked at many
different things, the common ground is that there is a problem.
It is not the majority of the industry but there is a sizeable
minority of the industry where there is a problem. Yes, they have
looked at all these options, but I understand where they have
got to now is satisfactory to both sides.
Q64 Chairman: What is the Scotland
Office doing to help ensure that the UK abides by its ratification
of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages?
Mr Darling: What were we doing
to implement it?
Q65 Chairman: Yes.
Mr Darling: Do you want to deal
with that?
Q66 Danny Alexander: In particular
helping the Prime Minister translate calls and letters into Gaelic?
Mr Darling: As and when we get
a letter in Gaelic I am sure we will arrange to reply in the appropriate
terms. I took note of what was said and I do not think that will
happen again.
Q67 Chairman: Secretary of State,
Minister, and Dr Wildgoose, thank you. Before I bring this meeting
to a conclusion, is there anything you wish to add perhaps on
topics not covered properly during the questioning?
Mr Darling: No.
Q68 Chairman: Thank you very much.
Mr Cairns: You are all welcome
to come to the launch of the Poppy Appeal in Dover House this
evening.
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