§ MR. O'MARA (Kilkenny, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will grant the Return relating to Illicit Distillation standing on to-day's Paper.*
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. I am unable to consent to the Return asked for.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider that answer in view of the fact that during the discussion on the Estimates a most extraordinary state of things was disclosed, and he was good enough to promise to make inquiries. If he does not grant this Return, we shall get no information until the Estimates come on again next year, and I would therefore respectfully ask him to consent to the Return.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what has been the result of his inquiries so far?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI have communicated with the Board of Inland Revenue, but I am not at present prepared to make any statement as to any steps I may propose to take. The matter is under discussion. I could not give a portion of the information asked for in this Return under any circumstances, but at the same time I hope that the steps to be taken will render it unnecessary to have any Return at all. I am unwilling to throw additional work on the Inland Revenue at the present time, and I will ask the hon. Gentleman to wait until I have been able to decide what steps shall be taken.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDWill the hon. Gentleman undertake to make some statement as to the result of his inquiries, or must we wait another year?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI will communicate with the hon. Gentleman as soon as I am able to take any action.