§ MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the quantities of maize, foreign barley, and beet molasses used in distilleries in the United Kingdom during last financial year for the manufacture of plain British spirits; if he will consider the advisability of imposing an 1468 imp ort duty on those commodities with a view to encouraging the cultivation of cereals in the United Kingdom, and also with a view to lessening the production of cheap patent alcohol which is extracted from these foreign importations and condemned by the medical profession as unfit for consumption.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe official records of materials used in distilleries in the United Kingdom for the manufacture of plain British spirits do not distinguish under separate heads any of the articles mentioned in the first part of the Question. The suggestion contained in the latter part of the Question is inconsistent with the existing financial system of the country.
§ MR. KILBRIDEWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ascertain the quantities imported?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI think the hon. Gentleman can get the information as to quantities from the Board of Trade Returns.