HC Deb 20 May 1908 vol 189 c279
SIR GILBERT PARKER

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the estimated value of the hops and of hop substitutes, respectively, used in the brewing industry in 1906, and the average in both cases for the years 1902–6.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Dundee

No information is available with regard to the value of either the hops or hop substitutes used for brewing in the United Kingdom in recent years.

SIR GILBERT PARKER

May we not hope that the right hon. Gentleman will so reorganise his Department as to be able to collect useful information of this kind in order to supply it to the House?

* MR. LUPTON

asked whether it was the fact that the amount of hops used was such that a 40s. duty would mean £1,300,000 a year extra to be paid by the brewers?

[No Answer was returned.]