HC Deb 12 April 1922 vol 153 cc402-3
64. Major KELLEY

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the average shares in the retail cost of a pint of beer which are taken respectively by the Excise, the publican, and the brewer; and which of these three parties is the profiteer?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

I have been asked to reply. For beer of the average gravity brewed in the early months of the current year and sold at 7d. a pint, the Excise Duty represents 3⅓d. per pint. The inquiries made in my Department lead to the conclusion that the division of the remainder is, approximately, 2d. for brewers' costs and profits and 1⅔d. for retailing expenses and profits. These proportions represent average conditions, not the charges on every kind of beer. I am unable to assist my hon. and gallant Friend in providing an answer to the last part of his question.

Major KELLEY

Is my hon. Friend aware that the brewer gets less than a half-penny a pint and the publican a little more than a half-penny, and therefore how is it possible to reduce it a penny a pint to the public without very great loss?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

I think my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in answer to a question on Monday, made an approximate calculation that a penny a pint represented£30,000,000.