§ Sir ROBERT HOBARTasked the right hon. and gallant Member for West Essex (Epping Division), as acting Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he is aware that the charges in the refreshment rooms of the House of Commons for whisky were recently raised from 3d. to 4d. for the half-glass, and from 6d. to 7d. for the full glass; whether these charges have now been reduced to 3½d. for the half-glass and 6½d. for the full glass: whether he will state on what grounds these charges have been raised and then lowered: whether this whisky has been stored in the House 841 of Commons cellars for some years, and, if so, how long and in what quantity; and whether this whisky has paid any additional duty under the Budget Resolutions, or if the price has been advanced before any extra duty has been paid?
§ Colonel LOCKWOODWith the idea of meeting a deficit and a falling revenue by taxing luxuries, and perhaps with the hope of increasing temperance by limiting the alcoholic expenditure of hon. Members, my esteemed colleague the Member for Mid-Derbyshire placed a super-tax on whisky of 1d. per portion, raising the price from:3d. to 4d. and from 6d. to 7d. The increase of ½d on each portion would show a slight profit on the increased duty. There is probably enough whisky—Irish and Scotch—to last this Session. In order, however, to meet the wishes of hon. Members, and in view of an arduous Session, the Committee decided to remit ½d. of the supertax, leaving only an increased price of½d. per measure, leaving the prices at 3½d. and 6½d. respectively. Members can avoid paying the odd ½d. by purchasing two portions instead of one.