HC Deb 09 September 1909 vol 10 cc1467-8
Captain CRAIG

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman can state the amount of revenue derived from the duties on quack medicines in the years 1905–6, 906–7, and 1907–8, respectively?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

The amounts of revenue derived from the Medicine Stamp Duty, to which I take the hon. Member to refer, in the years 1905–6, 1906–7, 1907–8, were £324,112, £327,106, and £334,142 respectively.

Captain CRAIG

Is this extraordinary increase year by year in those quack medicines to be attributed, to a certain extent, to the fact that the label put on by the Government in order to collect the duty is taken by certain of the poorer classes to mean that the contents have Government approval?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I do not think so. There has been no extraordinary increase. It is only an increase of £324,000 to £334,000.

Captain CRAIG

That is an increase of £10,000 for duty alone on the sale of these medicines.