§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Heading read.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Viscount CROSS)My Lords, I have to ask your Lordships to give a Second Reading to this Bill, which, though a small one, is one of considerable importance. Your Lordships will remember that under the Finance Acts manufacturers of tobacco are not allowed to use more than a certain amount of water. If the law is not complied with in this respect heavy penalties are imposed, but manufacturers of tobacco have evaded the law by using oil in addition to water. This is now done to an extent which makes it injurious to the consumer. It also seriously affects the revenue, and works hardly on the honest trader. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has introduced this Bill to stop this practice, which works mischief all the way round. The object of the Bill is to limit the amount of oil used in tobacco, the quantity of oil permitted by the measure as it stands being 3 per cent., but the Government are willing to extend it to 4 per cent. when the Bill gets into Committee.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read a second time."— (Viscount Cross.)
§ On Question agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly and committed to a Committee of the whole House To-morrow.