Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the Secretary to the Treasury what increase of revenue has resulted from the addition of 8d. to the Tobacco Duty in 1909; what was the total amount of duty paid in the year preceding and the year after the date when the increase took effect; what was the proportion of such amounts paid by the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain; and whether, in view of the injury sustained by small tobacco 3183W firms, a number of which have had to give up business owing to the increase, it is proposed to retain the present high duty?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe estimated yield of the additional Tobacco Duty is as follows:—
£ 1909–10 … … … 1,850,000 1910–11 … … … 2,800,000 1911–12 … … … 2,750,000 The total receipts from the duty on tobacco in the years 1908–9 and 1909–10 were £13,829,000 and £15,688,000, respectively. I am unable to state the amounts of duty paid by the Imperial Tobacco Company. I cannot hold out any hope of a reduction of the duty.