§ 47. Rear-Admiral SUETERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he cart give the alcohol content. of beer, cider, ginger wine, ginger beer and ginger ale; and, in view of the failure of the extra Beer Duty to bring in the revenue that was expected, will he consider, in the next Budget, trying the experiment of halving the present Beer Duty and placing the half-duty taken off on soft drinks in proportion to their alcohol content?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWith regard to the first part of the question, I gather that my hon. and gallant Friend wishes to compare the relative incidence of the taxation of alcohol in different beverages; I am afraid that such a comparison is scarcely practicable, owing to the wide variations which are found in the alcoholic content of each one of these beverages. With regard to the second part, I have noted the suggestion.
Viscountess ASTORWill the Chancellor of the Exchequer explain to the House why it is that the drink trade and the poisonous drugs trade are the only trades where it is necessary to regulate the output; and will he also bear in mind that the drink trade is conducting an active propaganda in this House by asking questions about taxation, and yet it has made more profit than any other trade in the country?