§ MR. MARKS (Tower Hamlets, St. (George's)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss which would result to the Exchequer if the application of the increases of duty foreshadowed in his Budget proposals were to be limited to foreign as distinguished from colonial imports?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt is not possible to give an accurate estimate of what the loss to the Exchequer might be if the increase of the wine duties did not extend to colonial wines. On the present comparative consumption it would be £20,000 a year, but the circumstances resulting from a preferential rate of duty on colonial wines might largely increase this loss.
§ MR. J. LOWTHER (Kent, Isle of Thanet)Does my right honourable Friend mean that we ought not to stimulate the importation of wine from the Colonies?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERWhat I am afraid of is that if colonial wine was to receive preferential treatment wine would be sent from foreign countries to the Colonies so as to be sent into Great Britain at the cheaper duty.