§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the disparity in the scale of Excise duties on publicans' licences, the smaller houses paving at the rate of 50 per cent. of their annual value; and whether he can now give an estimate of the addition to the revenue which would be effected by imposing on all houses a 1563 uniform duty equal to 50 per cent. of their annual value.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Mr. VICTOR CAVENDISH,) Derbyshire, W.I am aware of the disparity referred to by the hon. Member but it must not be supposed that the volume of business is always in proportion to the annual value of the premises. It is roughly estimated that the total annual value of public-houses (exclusive of hotels) in England and Wales is about £7,000,000. If 50 per cent. of this sum were taken as licence duty, it would amount to £3,500,000.