§ Mr. TIMOTHY DAVIESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount paid by the Crown as allowances to consignors of British spirits exported during the last financial year; and can he state what proportion of that amount was paid to the distillers?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe net amount was £114,393. The Board of Customs and Excise have no means of knowing what proportion of this amount was paid directly or indirectly to distillers.
§ Mr. WATTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the allowances originally made are no longer got by the consignors, but by middlemen?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy information is that the consignors still get them.