§ MR. T. SNAPE (Lancashire, S. E., Heywood)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India (1) whether, in many of the provinces of India, the Excise Duty on proof spirits is below the Customs Duty on imported spirits, and below the Home Excise Duty; (2) whether the Excise and Customs Duty could be equalised, so as in no case to be below the maximum duty now levied, either in India or in this country; and(3) whether, if this were done, it would be possible to supply the deficit in the Revenue by this means, and so relieve the Indian Budget?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. H. H. FOWLER, Wolver—hampton, E.)The facts are as stated in the first clause of my hon. Friend's question. The Excise Duties have of late years been enhanced, and the process of enhancement is still going on; but a sudden and large increase of this form of taxation is not considered expedient.