§ 61. Mr. C. WILLIAMSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to protect the revenue from evasion caused by the manufacture and sale of the Scottish beverage known as red biddy?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)I have no reason to suppose that there is any evasion of the appropriate duty payable in respect of the article in question, which, as my right hon. Friend has pre- 423 viously explained to the hon. Member, is understood to be a cheap red wine of either British or foreign origin. In either case the Duty is secured by the usual Revenue machinery.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the Financial Secretary tell me why the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes no interest in collecting this Duty from a highly alcoholic beverage and whether he will not go into it a little more carefully in order to collect the highest amount of Duty possible?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEIt is not right to say that the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes no interest in collecting this Duty. In so far as it is correctly imposed, it is collected in the ordinary way.