§ MR. LABOUCHEREI wish to put a question to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as to a part of the financial scheme of the Government, which has had the effect of creating much dissatisfaction among dealers in tobacco, which I think it is quite possible the answer of my right hon. Friend may remove. The question is this, whether he is prepared to modify in any manner the system of excise regulations which he proposes to apply to this class of tradesmen, which they complain of as an act of injustice, as an increased house tax. If that is the case, I wish to ask my right hon. Friend also whether he will have the goodness to give publicity to the alterations he proposes in time for them to be fairly considered by the trade?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI am much obliged to my right hon. Friend for enabling me to state in this House what I have already announced to various persons in different parts of the country. I am very sensible that the scale of licences proposed, if it were ap- 681 proved by the House, would operate with great severity, but a severity not intended on the part of the Government; and I readily give a pledge that the scale shall be reconsidered and reprinted, to enable all the parties interested to consider it.
§ SIR FITZROY KELLYI beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his reconsideration will extend to the proposed licence for maltsters?
The CHANCELLOR or THE EXCHEQUERThe reconsideration of which I have spoken will apply—I do not say equally in all cases—to the entire scale.