HC Deb 27 September 1939 vol 351 cc1372-3

I rum to tobacco. The basic duty is at present us. 6d. per lb. I raised the duty to this figure from a previous level of 9s. 6d. in my Budget last April. I now propose a further rise of 2S. per lb. That is 1½d. an ounce, making the basic duty 13s. 6d. per lb. This will, of course, be accompanied by corresponding increases in the other tobacco duties, for instance on cigars. I estimate that this will yield £8,000,000 this year and £16,000,000 in a full year. The Committee will, I hope, agree with me that it is right, when we have to get so much more money, that we should get this extra contribution from tobacco and intoxicating liquor. But if the list of additions to indirect taxation stopped there, those who neither smoke nor drink nor pay Income Tax would be making no special contribution to this emergency Budget. For my part I cannot think that that would be right.

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