§ Mr. GEORGE ROBERTSasked the Chancellor if he will consider the advisability of setting up an inquiry into the incidence of liquor and licensing taxation, with a view to determining whether and to what extent injustices and anomalies are prevalent in the present system; in what proportion taxation falls upon the manufacturer, the distributor, and the consumer; and to consider whether improved methods are practicable in order to secure an equitable adjustment of this class of taxation?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI think any such inquiry would be premature, at any rate until the process of ascertaining Annual Licence Value in pursuance of Section 44 of the Finance (1909–10) Act is completed.