§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer to state the amount of duty actually paid on tea in Ireland during the year ending 31st March last; how much tea was cleared at London or English ports, and what duty it brought in; and whether, having regard to the admitted over-taxation of Ireland, he could sanction a sliding scale in Ireland differentiating between the cheaper and dearer qualities of tea.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe amount of duty paid on tea in Ireland during the year ended 31st March last was £436,755. The clearances of tea for home consumption and the amount of duty collected thereon, for the same period, in London and in other ports and places in England, were as follows:—
For reasons which I gave in a speech in this House the day before yesterday, I do not propose to introduce a sliding scale of tea duties; nor, considering the general quality of teas used in Ireland, does it seem clear that any advantage would accrue to that country from so doing.
Clearances. Amount of duty collected. lbs. £ London. 226,278,662 7,451,369 Other ports and places in England. 4,748,179 155,527