HC Deb 30 May 1933 vol 278 cc1716-7
33. Mr. HICKS

asked the Home Secretary the gravity of the beer now being sold by the State Management at 5d. per pint?

Mr. HACKING

It is not the practice of brewers to make public the gravities of their beers, and I think that in this matter the State, Management should conform to trade practice. I may say, however, that the gravity of this 5d. beer is two degrees higher than the gravity of the beer which was sold at 6d. before the revision of the Beer Duties.

Mr. THORNE

May I ask the right hon. Member what we are going to get from that reply? I want to know what is the gravity. Is it 1,025, 1,027, or 1,030?

Mr. HACKING

My hon. Friend wants to know what he is going to get from this reply. He is going to get better and cheaper beer.

Mr. THORNE

I want to find out, and I intend to find out, what is the gravity of this 5d. beer. You ought to know whether it is 1,027, 1,030, or 1,040.

Mr. HACKING

The hon. Member says that he intends to find it out. He may intend to find it out, but I am very sorry to say that he will not find it out from me.

Mr. THORNE

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he is going to get his tax unless he knows from the brewers what is the gravity of the beer that they are going to brew?