§ Mr. FELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to increase the Customs duties on wines to such an amount as will tax the spirit contained in such wines to an amount approximating to the amount of the Excise duty on spirits manufactured in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI have already informed the hon. Member that I do not propose to alter the existing scale of Customs duties on wines.
§ Mr. FELLIs it the fact that the duty on spirits coming in the form of foreign wines at present comes to 5s. 3d. a gallon, whereas it will be over 14s. under the Budget, and will not this have the effect of giving a great preference to foreign countries?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThat is a question which ought to be put down. It involves the calculation of the quantity of proof spirits in various grades of wine.
§ Mr. J. C. FLYNNDoes not the question largely turn on the comparison as between foreign wines and home-made spirits?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThat is a question which I think it worth while asking the hon. Gentleman to put down.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThat bears on the answer I have given. I really cannot give the percentage of proof spirits in various grades of wine without notice.