(1)The Treasury may by order—
(a)substitute for the period of three years or that of two years referred to in subsection (1) of section 31 of the [1979 c. 4.] Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979 (restriction on delivery of immature spirits for home use) or for both such periods such shorter period or periods as they think fit;
(b)amend the said section 31 so as to exempt rum from any restriction imposed by that subsection ; and
(c)repeal the said section 31.
(2)An order under subsection (1) above shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be laid before the Commons House of Parliament and shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the day on which it was made unless it is approved by resolution of the Commons House of Parliament before the end of that period (but without prejudice to anything previously done in pursuance of the order or to the making of a new order).
In reckoning that period no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which the Commons House of Parliament is adjourned for more than four days.
(3)At the end of section 40 of the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979 (charge of duty on imported beer) there shall be added the following subsection: —
“(3)The duty chargeable on beer to which subsection (1) above applies and which is imported or removed into the United Kingdom in containers having a capacity of more than 10 litres shall be charged on a quantity which is 2 per cent, less than the quantity so imported or removed.”
(4)Subsection (3) above has effect in relation to beer imported or removed into the United Kingdom on or after 1st October 1982.