Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the Secretary to the Treasury what were the amounts of stripped and unstripped tobacco leaf, respectively, imported into the United Kingdom during the last year for which figures are available; what are about the proportional weights of leaf and stem in unstripped tobacco leaf; what were, approximately, the weights of stem on which rebates were allowed in the case of unstripped leaf tobacco on which duty had been paid, and what were, approximately, the weights of stem treated as 899W duty free in the case of unstripped leaf tobacco manufactured in bond; what, if any, steps are taken to denaturise these stems in order to protect the revenue; and what becomes of the stems afterwards or to what uses are they put?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe imports of un-manufactured tobacco in the year 1915 amounted to:—
The respective weights of leaf and stem in unstripped tobacco vary, but in a series of experiments made the average proportion of stalk was found to be about 22 per cent. of the weight. The weight of stems on which drawback was paid in 1915 was 9,999,000 lbs. The quantity of stems treated as duty free in bonded Cavendish factories cannot be separately stated, but the total quantity of stalks, shorts and other refuse of tobacco left over from manufacture in those factories was 2,708,000 lbs. Of that quantity 747,000 lbs. were removed to nicotine factories to be denatured according to official formulae for the manufacture of sheepwash, hop-powder, horticultural fumigant, etc., and the remaining 1,961,000 lbs. were destroyed under official supervision.
Stripped … 42,622,000 lbs. Unstripped … 163,311,000 lbs.