§ MR. O'NEILL (Antrim, Mid)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now prepared to state what steps are to be taken to prevent the use of methylated spirits as a beverage?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square)The Board of Inland Revenue intend to render methylated spirit sold by retail more nauseous in character. They also intend, when there is reason to believe that methylated spirit is being purchased from any retailer for potable purposes, to cause such retailer to keep a stock account, giving the date of sale and quantity sold on each occasion, together with the name and address of the purchaser, and, if any such purchaser be known to be using the methylated spirit as a beverage, the vendor will be warned that proceedings will be taken against him for recovery of the fine of £100 under Section 130 of 1475 the Spirits Act, 1880, if he continues to sell methylated spirit to the said purchaser. I can assure the hon. Member that every possible precaution will be taken to put a stop to the practice.