HC Deb 08 May 1873 vol 215 cc1677-8
MR. BARNETT

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he can inform the House of the quantity of tobacco burned, by order of the Commissioners of Customs, at the London Docks during each of the last three years; and, whether a better mode cannot be found of disposing of tobacco, on which the Duty has not been regularly paid, than its destruction?

MR. BAXTER,

in reply, said, that the quantity of unmanufactured tobacco burnt in the port of London during the last three years might be estimated at 240,000 lbs., and the quantity of manufactured tobacco destroyed during the last three years was 7,270 lbs. Nearly the whole of the tobacco burnt was unmerchantable, and if offered for sale would bring in a mere trifle—if, indeed, it could be sold at all. Whatever was of the least value was exported, the remainder was mere refuse.