§ MR. T. M. HEALYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is proposed to allocate the proportional amounts of the Spirit Duty annually to England and Ireland, or is it to be a perpetual allocation? The Whisky Tax, of course, is passed, and will remain as a permanent tax; but I should like to know whether, in their new legislation, the Government will deal with this £40,000 for Ireland, and the larger sum for England for the year only, or will it be a general Bill to exist as long as the tax is in existence?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. and learned Member must be content to wait until he has our proposals before him on the Paper in the form of Amendments. The matter is receiving very careful examination, but when the hon. and learned Gentleman speaks of any particular tax as permanent, he must remember that it is open to every Chancellor of the Ex- 84 chequer to review the taxation of the country every year. It is quite possible, not to say probable, that this tax having been imposed for a particular object, might be dealt with next year.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThat is what I want to get at. We want to know, brewers and distillers naturally are anxious to know, as this tax was only put on for the purpose of compensation to publicans, which object is now abandoned, whether there will be this tax on the trade next year or not?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. and learned Gentleman must be content with my answer; I am not able to say what may happen next year.