§ MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that spirits which have passed out of bond are still under the control of the Excise authorities, inasmuch as particulars of all spirits received by a trader are required by the Excise to be entered in a specially prepared Excise stock book which is periodically inspected; and, in view of the fact that all quantities of spirits over two gallons must be accompanied by a permit, issued and controlled by the Excise authorities, and which contains a description of the goods, he will see that henceforth the officials will not permit spirits blended with patent spirit as P. B. Spirit, meaning Plain British Spirit, or brandy so blended as F. B. meaning Foreign Brandy.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINPermits used by the Excise are required only for spirits moved under bond or out of bond. For the removal of duty paid spirits, only certificates are required, and these are issued, not by the Excise, but by the trader. They afford the Excise no opportunity for exercising any
‡ See (4) Debates, cxxxv., 1051.981 control over the character and quality of the spirits removed.
§ MR. MOONEY (Dublin County, S.)was understood to ask whether a permit was not an official document, seeing that no spirits could be sent out without one?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThat is the Question I have answered.