§ SIR J. LENG (Dundee)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that much dissatisfaction exists in Scotland, amongst both the retailers and consumers of tobacco, that the manufacturers and wholesale dealers have appropriated to themselves the entire pecuniary benefit of the reduction of the duty last year; and, if he can state to what extent the price has been lowered to consumers in other parts of the Kingdom?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH,) Bristol, W.I am not aware of the dissatisfaction to which the honourable Member refers. But, if it exists, the Scotch manufacturers must be much cleverer than those of England and Ireland, who have certainly not succeeded in appropriating the 6d. by which the duties were reduced last year. I am afraid I cannot, within the limits of a reply to a Question, make a statement as to the effect of the reduction of duty on the retail prices of tobacco in different parts of the United Kingdom. If the honourable Member will study the trade journals devoted to tobacco, he will find a great deal of evidence on the subject.