HC Deb 31 May 1894 vol 25 cc35-6
MR. FIELD

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that German spirit is conveyed in large quantities from Belfast and elsewhere to Bristol, where it is converted into so-called Irish whisky and put into Irish whisky casks previously shipped for this purpose as empties from Glasgow and Greenock, and then re-shipped from Bristol to Belfast and other places in Ire- land as real Irish whisky; and whether,, in the interests of native manufacturers and consumers generally, an inquiry will be instituted respecting the manipulation and sale of this foreign mixture sold as Irish whisky?

SIR W. HARCOURT

I am informed by the Revenue Authorities that German spirit is not conveyed in large quantities from Belfast to Bristol, the whole quantity of such spirit imported at the former port being small and practically all used for methylation; that the greater part of German spirit imported at Bristol (averaging about 80,000 gallons a year) is used for British compounds, which could not be converted into "Irish whisky." The rest is used for general trade purposes. After careful inquiry, no trace can be found of the conversion of German spirit into so-called Irish whisky at Bristol. With regard to the casks, the only empty spirit casks which can be traced as coming from Glasgow or Greenock to Bristol are used by a Bristol firm for storing and maturing spirits of their own production, produced under supervision of the Inland Revenue. The only spirit which can be traced as being sent from Bristol to Ireland is spirit produced by the Bristol company above referred to. If the Board of Trade were provided with any information of a sale of spirits under a false trade description in contravention of the Merchandise Marks Act they would inquire into the matter and take such steps as may be necessary.