§ SIR CHARLES CAMERONI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of customs duties paid according to the last Annual Report of the Commissioners of Customs on the following nine articles, namely, chloral, hydrate, chloroform, colodion, acetic, butyric, and sulphuric ethers: iodide, bromide, and chloride of ethyl; at what amount does he estimate the increased customs duties proposed under the Finance Bill of this session to be levied on these nine articles; and whether, in view of the fact that the revenue to be realised is so small, that the proportions by which the duties hitherto levied on these articles is proposed to be 946 increased vary from 5 to 28 per cent., and that no corresponding increase of duty is proposed in the cases of transparent soap and confectionery in the manufacture of which spirit is used, he will reconsider the question of disturbing existing duties on the nine articles specified.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The customs duties paid on the articles mentioned in the hon. Member's question amounted in the year 1898–99 to £2,349, and the increase in the duties is estimated to produce about £150. In the manufacture of these articles spirit, on which increased duty has to be paid, is used, and I do not think it would be fair to the British manufacturer who has to pay these increased rates to admit the like articles of foreign manufacture without any proportionate increase of duty. No increase has been proposed in the duties on confectionery made with spirit and transparent soap, as the proportionate increase would be too small to be expressed in any current coin.
§ SIR CHARLES CAMERONOn what principle has the variation been made?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHOn the proportion of the increase on spirits to the existing duty throughout.