§ MR. J. DEVLINTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the continued prevalence of the habit of drinking methylated spirits as a substitute for alcohol in Ulster, and particularly in County Derry; and whether he will consider the possibility of taking some effective steps to mitigate this evil, which is a danger to the health of the labouring classes in the districts affected.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have obtained reports from the police authorities which go to show that the practice in question does not now prevail in Ulster to any considerable extent. In some parts of County Tyrone the practice is stated to exist to a small extent, and in the city of Londonderry a few cases have from time to time come under the notice of the police; but the practice appears to be on the decrease. Under the Spirits Acts, 1880, any person who sells methylated spirits as a beverage incurs a penalty of £100, which is recoverable by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. The police have been instructed to afford all possible assistance to the Inland Revenue authorities in the prevention and detection of the offence in question.