§ 91. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping the tonnage which would be saved if the output of beer were reduced to 10 per cent. of the pre-war standard, as was done some time ago in Germany, or to 6 per cent. of the pre-war standard, as in the case of Austria; and the tonnage which would be saved if the further manufacture of beer and spirits in this country were prohibited during the War?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYI will first answer the question by reference to the pre-war beer output of 36,000,000 barrels. A reduction of this output to 10 per cent. means a saving of about 1,250,000 tons, dead weight, per annum; a reduction to 6 per cent. means a saving of about 1,305,000 tons; complete prohibition means a saving of about 1,385,000 tons. I will next take the saving upon the present reduced barrelage of 15,000,000. A reduction to 10 per cent. of the pre-war output would save about 440,000 tons; a reduction of 6 per cent., about 495,000 tons; complete prohibition, about 575,000 tons. As to the last figure, I may add that the economy in tonnage may be roundly expressed as the saving in employment of twenty-nine ships, each of 5,000 tons cargo capacity, making four voyages a year.
§ Mr. MILLARWill the hon. Gentleman see that those figures are brought before the War Cabinet, as we are asked to save tonnage in every possible way?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYI can only say that they have been repeatedly brought to the notice of the War Cabinet.