HC Deb 18 July 1898 vol 62 cc211-3

(Second Reading).

MR. DILLON

This is an extremely interesting Measure to us in Ireland, because we have been told over and over again that it is absolutely impossible to have a separate Customs system applied to any particular part of the United Kingdom, and we find now that there is a separate system for the Isle of Man. I should like to have some explanation as to the present, Customs system of the Isle of Man, and the reason for this separate legislation in regard to it.

*MR. HANBURY

The object of this Bill, far from creating sepa- rate Customs, is to assimilate the Customs of the Isle of Man to those of the rest of the United Kingdom. The Bill proposes to reduce the tobacco duty in the Isle of Man to the same level as that to which the tobacco duty of the United Kingdom has been reduced by the Budget of this year. This reduction will entail a loss of revenue to the Isle of Man of somewhere about £2,000, leaving only a very small surplus on the year's accounts. That loss it is proposed to compensate by adding sixpence a gallon to the customs duties on spirits. The spirit duties are, and will still be, lower than in the United Kingdom. The changes of duty have already been brought into force under resolutions of the Tynwald Court, which however, will only have effect for six months unless continued by the sanction of Parliament.

MR. DILLON

The spirit duty, I understand, is still below the duty on spirits in the United Kingdom.

DR. TANNER

I do not think we have yet heard the end of this question. With reference to these Bills, which are brought in in this peculiar way, we have nothing to say, it must be left to the English Members to discuss that; but, in connection with this question of Customs, it is altogether a maze to my mind. Perhaps the House will agree with me upon that point, and perhaps it will not. But, at any rate, how came it that duties are now existing which have never been levied before?

MR. SPEAKER

I must ask the honourable Member to be more relevant in his remarks.

DR. TANNER

I merely wish to ask for some sort of answer to a very ordinary question: why, in connection with the Isle of Man and the House of Keys—which, I believe, is the House of Parliament of that island—the matter has not been raised before, and left to a Commission of the House of Parliament under its jurisdiction? I only want to see why—

MR. SPEAKER

The question is that this Bill be now read a second time.

Read a second time, and committed for to-morrow.