§ 65. Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that our exports to Canada of alcoholic liquors rose from £842,453 in 1913 to £2,648,128 in 1920; and whether there is information showing the cause of this increase?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe increase in the declared value of exports of alcoholic liquors to Canada between 1913 and 1920 was due to an increase in price and not to an increase in quantity.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that a good deal of the disparity is due, not to an increase in quantity, but to the fact that there has been an increase of three times in the price?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI do not think the statistics bear that out, but I shall be happy if my hon. and gallant Friend cares to call on me to try to explain the matter further.
§ 68. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the total product of a 10 per cent. tax on all alcoholic spirits exported or now placed on board ships free of tax, assuming that the figures of 1921 still hold?
§ Sir J. BAIRD (for Mr. Hilton Young)A tax of 10 per cent. ad valorem on all spirits exported from the United Kingdom in 1921, including British and Irish spirits, foreign and Colonial spirits, and spirits shipped as "stores," would have produced rather less than £1,000,000, on the assumption that the quantities exported would not have been affected by the tax. I may add that the probable yield of the tax would be much less than the above figure.