§ GENERAL SIR F. FITZWYGRAM(for Mr. BYRON REED,) Bradford, E.I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any Customs or Excise Duties are collected under any circumstances on cider; whether any cider on which no such duties have been paid may be sold by retail without an Excise licence; whether he has any information showing the strength of the ciders imported into and manufactured in this country; and whether beer of the same strength as such ciders is on the same footing as regards the payment of duty and the conditions of sale by retail?
SIR J. GORSTThere are no Customs or Excise Duties on cider as such; but if on importation it is found to contain or to be fortified with spirit, duty is charged. Cider cannot be sold without an Excise licence. I have no information as to the strength of ciders imported and manufactured, but such information is being collected. Beer is not on the same footing as cider as regards the payment of duty. The conditions of sale by retail are practically the same for both.