§ MR. WATTTo ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the quantities of tobacco permitted to be manufactured under the, various licence duties ranging from £5 5s. to £31 10s.; the total amounts derived from licence duties to wholesale tobacco manufacturers during the last seven years; whether the number of firms paying these is much reduced in that time; and whether he will continue the graduation of taxation up to a much higher poundage.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The quantities of tobacco permitted to be manufactured under the various rates of licence duty are as follows—
The following is a statement of the number of licences granted, and the net receipt of duty from such licences in the seven years ended 31st March, 1908—
Licence Duty. Ibs. £5 5s. not exceeding 20,000 £10 10s. not exceeding 40,000 £15 15s. not exceeding 60,000 £21 0s. not exceeding 80,000 £26 5s. not exceeding 100,000 £31 10s. exceeding 100,000 It is not considered advisable to continue the graduation to a higher rate.
Year. Number of licenses issued. Duty. £ 1901–2 502 6,846 1902–3 482 6,435 1903–4 464 6,079 1904–5 441 5,843 1905–6 429 5,460 1906–7 415 5,486 1907–8 415 5,408