§ Mr. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Dublin)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the firm of A. Guinness, Son, and Company, Limited, brewers, have, in consequence of the Finance Bill, increased their price for extra stout to retailers by the sum of 21s. 4d. per barrel of thirty-two liquid gallons; whether he is aware that the gravity of this stout is 51 degrees; if the actual increased taxation on Messrs. Guinness is therefore only 1507W 13s. 11d. per barrel; whether this price will reduce the retailer's profit on each barrel by 10 per cent.; and whether the Government have any power, by refusing the rebate of 2s. per barrel or otherwise, to prevent a firm of brewers from putting on an extra charge over and above the amount necessary to cover the cost of the new duties, and by so doing not only sweeping away the margin calculated by him to provide the retailer with a set-off for the reduction of consumption but inflicting an actual decrease of profit by 10 per cent. on each barrel sold by him?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI am not in a position to cheek the figures quoted in the first four parts of the question, but I venture to doubt if they are correct. As regards the last part of the question, the Government have no control over the prices charged by brewers for beer sold to their customers, nor have they any power to refuse the rebate of 2s. a barrel; but I should certainly deprecate any attempt on the part of the brewer (were any such to be made) to impose an improper share of the new burden on the retailer.