§ Mr. SEDDON(by Private Notice) asked whether the Government are aware of the great discontent caused in various parts of the country by the present shortage of beer, and whether they propose to take any steps to relieve the situation?
Mr. ROBERTSYes, Sir. The subject has again been considered by the Government and it has been decided to increase the standard barrelage from 20,000,000 standard barrels to 26,000,000 standard barrels, which at the present sanctioned gravity of 10.40 would give approximately 575 35,000,000 bulk barrels. Of the 26,000,000 standard barrels, some 2,500,000 will be reserved for allocation by the Ministry of Food to areas where the population has increased. The present prices will remain and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will, in due course, make proposals to this House for the additional taxation consequent on the increased barrelage.