HC Deb 12 May 1909 vol 4 cc1983-4W
Mr. WARING

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average amount in gallons of spirits or whisky consumed in Scotland, Ireland or England, respectively; what is the average amount of Excise duty on the same paid during the last five years in Scotland, Ireland, and England, respectively; how much does this duty work out per head of the population in Scotland, England and Ireland, respectively; and how many proof gallons of whisky are lying in the Excise bonded warehouses at the various pure Highland malt distilleries in the counties of Scotland north of and including Perthshire?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

The average number of gallons of "spirits or whisky"—i.e., British spirits, consumed in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively in the five years ended 31st March, 1908, was:—

England 22,343,688 proof gallons
Scotland 6,894,053 proof gallons
Ireland 3,715,513 proof gallons
This is on the basis of the Parliamentary Paper, Sessional No. 216, of 1908—Revenue

PRESENT RATES
England. Scotland. Ireland.
Spirits—
Wholesale £10 10 0 *£4 4s. to £13 13s. £10 10 0
Retail 3 3 0 † £9/18/5 to £14/6/7
Wine
Wholesale and Retail 10 10 0 £2 4 1 £10 10 0
Beer
Wholesale 3 6 1 (Included with Spirit Licence) 3 6 1
Retail 1 5 0 1 5 0
* According as annual value is under £ 10 or is £50 or above.
† According as annual value is under £25 or is £50 or above.

This licence only authorises sales in a quantity not exceeding two quarts.

and Expenditure, England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The average amount of Excise duty paid on the same was—

England £12,289,028
Scotland 3,791,728
Ireland 2,043,531

This average duty on British spirits works out per head of the average population of the five years ended March, 1908, as follows:—

s. d.
England 7 1.36
Scotland 16 0.53
Ireland 9 3.86

There are no records from which the information asked for in the last paragraph of the question can be given.