§ MR. BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he would consider the propriety of making a gift of some of the tobacco seized on account of non-payment of duty to the Mission to the Fishery Fleet in the North Seas, seeing that the Mission buy tobacco in bond, and that Her Majesty's Revenue would, consequently, not suffer?
§ MR. LLEWELLYN (Somerset, N.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is aware that the large amount of smuggled tobacco seized annually by Her Majesty's Customs is burnt or otherwise destroyed in what is known as "The Queen's Pipe"; whether, last year, the weight of such tobacco was 15,300 lbs., representing in value £4,206, inclusive of duty; and, whether he will consider if it is possible, without injury to the trade, to distribute some part of such tobacco amongst the sick and aged paupers in the wards of our infirmaries and workhouses?
§ THE CHANCELLOE OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's Hanover Square)I would first point out that, though the value of the smuggled tobacco seized annually, inclusive of duty, is correctly stated at 86 £4,206, the actual value (i.e., the value exclusive of the duty) is only one-third of that sum, or even less; and I may say at once that it would be impossible to permit the tobacco to be distributed among paupers in the manner proposed. To allow any class of the community to consume tobacco free of duty would result in displacing regularly imported and duty-paid tobacco, and would, therefore, be detrimental to the interests both of the trade and the Revenue. The same objection does not apply to the proposal to dispose of the tobacco to the Deep Sea Fishermen's Mission, as the Mission are allowed to buy tobacco in bond; but, from communications that have passed between the Customs and the Mission, it appears that the only portion of the confiscated tobacco which the Mission could utilize would be the cake cavendish. The proportion which seizures of tobacco of this description bear to the whole amount confiscated varies widely from year to year, but I believe, on an average, it may be put at about half; and I shall be prepared to receive any suggestions which the Mission may be disposed to make for the purchase of this class of tobacco.