SIR CUTHBERT QUIETER (Suffolk, Sudbury)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in conformity with the suggestion contained in the Majority Report and the recommendation contained in the Minority Report of the Beer Materials Committee, he will direct the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to require brewers for sale to make separate entry, after the close of the present fiscal year, of all substitutes for hops used, describing accurately the nature of such substitutes; and whether be will further 1184 direct the Commissioners to alter the form of the published return relating to brewers' licences, so as to disclose the quantities of malt, substitutes for malt, or unmalted grain, and of hops or substitutes for hops used by each individual brewer.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The majority of the Committee, While they mentioned that hops and hop substitutes might be made the subject of a separate entry, expressed their opinion that no deleterious substitutes were in fact used, and that compulsory declaration of the use of substitutes would serve no useful end. Legislation would be necessary to compel brewers to make such entries, and, in view of the Committee's opinion, I have not seen my way to propose it. The suggestion in the second paragraph was also considered by the Committee, but the opinion of the majority was that it would involve inquisitorial interference with business and a departure from that reticence as to individuals which is an essential feature of our revenue system.
SIR CUTHBERT QUILTEDSeeing that this information is in the hands of a large number of public servants, can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why it should be withheld from Members of this House?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI do not know that it is in the hands of a large number of public servants.