§ Mr. H. C. LEAasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the effect of the imposition of an additional duty of 3s. 9d. per gallon on spirits would be to close down or curtail the production of most of the malt distilleries in Scotland, and that the grain distillers would also suffer in competition with the importers of foreign, spirits, in consequence of the new distillers' licence to be imposed, thus decreasing the 5d. per gallon preference hitherto in existence; and whether he can promise any action to remedy this?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThe hon. Member raises points which can hardly be dealt with by way of an answer to a question. But I do not think that the new distillers' licence duty, which works out to something like one-tenth of a penny per gallon distilled, would justify any addition to the surtax on imported spirits.