HC Deb 15 March 1928 vol 214 cc2103-4
60. Sir GEORGE HAMILTON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the actual date when the Royal Commission on Awards recommended the payment of £987 to Dr. Mole, the Australian, for the tank invention, as disclosed in the House on 12th March, 1924, and 7th May, 1924?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The Royal Commission did not recommend the payment of any award to Mr. de Mole, but, in a separate communicated dated the 20th November, 1919—a few days after the date of their report on the matter—the Commission expressed the opinion that the case of Mr. de Mole was quite exceptional, and that, if he should make an application for the payment of his expenses, the matter should be dealt with in a generous spirit; and it was in accordance with this opinion that the payment

I will, with the Hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. EVERARD

Is it not the fact that, since the Preference has been put on, the imports of wine from our Empire have gone up enormously?

Following is the answer:

The information requested cannot be given for any period prior to the 25th April, 1927, because before that date wine delivered for home consumption was classified under the tariff headings of (a) not exceeding 30 degrees of proof spirit, and (b) exceeding 30 degrees and not exceeding 42 degrees of proof spirit, which headings corresponded with the rates of duty then in force.

The net quantities of wine delivered for home consumption from the 25th April, 1927, to the 31st December, 1927, inclusive, were as follow:

of £987 to Mr. de Mole was subsequently authorised.