§ SIR J. LENGI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total amounts of duty paid on tobacco in the months of March 1898 and March 1899 respectively; what were the total amounts for the twelve months ended 31st March in each of those years; and what the duty would have yielded last year if paid at the same rates as charged in the previous year?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (SIR M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.)I shall give the usual information with regard to the receipts from tobacco in the two years in the Budget Statement, and I must ask the honourable Member to wait till then. The third paragraph in his Question is a matter of speculation, because it is not possible to tell how much tobacco would have paid duty if the old rate had been retained. The increase in the amount of tobacco retained for home consumption in the year has been more than double the normal rate of increase under the old rate of duty.
§ SIR J. LENGSpeaking generally, has the total revenue not been close upon £1,500,000?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERWhy, Sir, the total revenue from tobacco was nearly 11 millions.
§ SIR J. LENGI meant increase.