HC Deb 28 July 1942 vol 382 c329
57. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the public grounds on which he refuses to disclose particulars of the consumption of alcoholic liquors and the duties levied thereon and also the quantities of materials used in brewing and distilling, seeing that these particulars have been published annually since 1910 and in even greater detail during the war years 1914 to 1918?

Sir K. Wood

There are many figures which were published during the last war whose publication has been deemed undesirable during the present war. I am advised that the particulars available concerning the consumption of alcoholic liquors and the materials used in brewing and distilling relate to alcohol of all kinds. It would be against the public interest to publish any figures from which an estimate of the consumption or production of industrial alcohol could be obtained.

Mr. Davies

Why does the right hon. Gentleman refuse to disclose the operations of the drink traffic when the Select Committee on National Expenditure exposes practically everything in relation to other industries?

Sir K. Wood

That is another story.