If the results of this review prove conclusively at the end of year that the different rates set by the Member States do actually distort the market in beers, wines and spirits, may I ask the acting President-in-Office what action the Council proposes to take? It strikes me that we have a situation in the United Kingdom where jobs and income from tax and excise duty have actually been exported to France because the French Government set a much lower excise duty than perhaps any other Member State of the Community, and that acts to protect their own produce.

Would the Minister not agree that we must establish a level playing field and that we must approximate excise duty rates?