§ 48. Lord APSLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount that would be lost to the Treasury by the relief of the Excise duty on pure beer to the extent of 1d.; and whether a similar amount could be made up by a small Customs duty on foreign imported barley and dried milk?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have no knowledge of the standard by which my Noble Friend would define what he understands by the term "pure beer," but if he means beer brewed from certain ingredients only, I fear it would be impracticable to give the estimate asked for in the first part of the question. I cannot, therefore, make the comparison indicated in the second part of the question.
§ Lord APSLEYMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he could not go into the figures again if I gave him, as a definition of "pure beer," beer malted from British barley by yeast, not by chemical products?
Viscountess ASTORBefore the Chancellor of the Exchequer answers this question, will he always bear in mind that any increase in beer drinking would make it even more difficult for children to get milk, which is absolutely essential to the health of the nation?
§ Lord APSLEYIs it not a fact that in the days when we had pure beer there was plenty of milk to be got?
§ Mr. MACLEANBefore the right hon. Gentleman accepts that definition, is he not prepared to have some of that beer sent along?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think I will not attempt to intervene in the dispute which is taking place, but if my hon. Friend will give me the precise data, I will then consider whether it is practicable for us to furnish him with the information he is seeking.