§ MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the convictions against traders in North London for selling patent spirit as whisky, and what action he proposes to take to prevent the repetition of such sales; whether he will in future allow operations to be carried on in Government warehouses in which patent spirit is bottled in bond, described as fine old Scotch whisky, and exported to our Colonies.
§ MR. MCKENNAMy attention has been called to the convictions. The Excise Duty Acts do not discriminate between pot-still and patent-still spirits, and, as the duly upon both is the same, the Inland Revenue officials, whose functions are confined to the protection of the Revenue, have no authority to concern themselves in the matter. I understand that notice of appeal against the decision of the magistrate has been given, so that in any case the matter is still sub judice.