§ SIR J. JARDINEI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to take any steps, under the Tobacco Growing (Scotland) Act, 1908, to remove any existing restraints on the growing of tobacco in Scotland; if he can state what restrictions on such growing are now enforced by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue; and whether it is competent to any person in Scotland to procure any sort of licence to grow tobacco, especially for purposes of experiment, and on what terms.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEAs regards the first part of the Question, I may 269 refer my hon. friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. friend the Member for Sutherland. Under Section 2 of the Tobacco Growing (Scotland) Act, 1908, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue are empowered to permit the growth of tobacco for experimental purposes in Scotland, subject to such regulations and conditions as they may think fit; but I understand that they have as yet received no application for the grant of such permission.
§ SIR J. JARDINEWill agriculturists who have already begun to experiment and have standing crops be allowed to experiment?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEIf any case is brought before me I will consider it favourably.
§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)Will Scotland be treated as favourably in this respect as Ireland?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGECertainly. I am sure I would not dare to do otherwise.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIs it not the fact that the present provisions for growing tobacco in Ireland are the result of seven years careful experiment which have proved that tobacco can be grown in Ireland?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThat is so.