Beer (Taxation) (Hansard, 28 March 1950)

HC Deb 28 March 1950 vol 473 cc185-6 185

§ 54. Mr. Colegate
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures showing the number of barrels of beer brewed in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in each year from 1920 to 1949; and the amount of revenue accruing to the Exchequer therefrom in each year.

§ Sir S. Cripps
As the answer is in the form of a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

§ Mr. Colegate
Whilst thanking the Chancellor, may I ask would he not agree that the over-taxation of beer has meant 186 a loss to the Revenue and deprived many ordinary people of their customary glass of beer owing to the incidence of tax reflected in the price?

§ Sir S. Cripps
No, that is not the evidence of the figures.

§ Mr. Boothby
Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give consideration to the possibility of strengthening the beer?

§ Sir S. Cripps
Certainly, I will give consideration to everything.

§ Mr. Nally
When considerations pass through the mind of the Chancellor on this subject, will he bear in mind the steady and the great increase in the profits of brewers since 1920?

§ Following is the table:

	Quantities charged with duty.	Net receipts
Financial Year	Bulk barrels	£
1920–21	34,504,570	123,393,903
1921–22	30,178,731	121,844,583
1922–23	23,948,651	92,262,893
1923–24	25,425,017	76,110,638
1924–25	26,826,665	75,825,827
1925–26	26,839,317	76,320,021
1926–27	25,167,933	78,763,480
1927–28	25,435,145	77,800,471
1928–29	24,608,342	70,846,978
1929–30	25,061,956	71,254,674
1930–31	23,900,213	69,269,299
1931–32	20,790,812	68,710,020
1932–33	17,950,303	67,097,581
1933–34	20,182,308	53,884,405
1934–35	20,864,814	53,582,335
1935–36	21,969,763	55,451,926
1936–37	22,724,450	57,318,585
1937–38	24,205,631	61,241,404
1938–39	24,674,992	62,370,034
1939–40	25,366,782	75,157,022
1940–41	26,203,803	133,450,205
1941–42	29,860,796	157,254,430
1942–43	29,296,672	209,584,343
1943–44	30,478,289	263,170,703
1944–45	31,332,852	278,876,870
1945–46	32,650,200	295,305,369
1946–47	29,261,398	250,350,829
1947–48	30,408,634	264,112,043
1948–49	26,990,144	294,678,035

§ The figures prior to 1922–23 relate to Great Britain and Ireland, separate figures in respect of Great Britain and Northern Ireland not being available.