§ 47. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount 180 of the duty per proof gallon on spirits in the year 1920, and the revenue derived therefrom; and the duty per proof gallon in 1932, and the amount of the revenue raised in that year?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir W. DAVISONCan my right hon. Friend say generally whether there has not been an enormous loss of revenue by reason of this continued high taxation; and does he recognise that this penal taxation is killing the goose that has laid so many golden eggs for the Treasury in the past?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere has been a loss of revenue, but I should be sorry to enter into any exposition about it now.
Viscountess ASTORDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that those men who have given up beer and are drinking milk are doing good to the farmers?
§ Following is the answer:
| Spirit Duties. | ||
| Rate per proof gallon. | Net amount of revenue received. | |
| 1920. | £ | |
| Prior to 20th April, 1920 | 50s. | 71 057,000* |
| On and after 20th April, 1920 | 72s. 6d. | |
| 1932 | 72s. 6d. | 33,776,000 (approximate figures). |
| * The figures for 1920 represent the net receipts in Great -Britain and the whole of Ireland, those for 1932 relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland only. |