HC Deb 20 July 1916 vol 84 cc1203-4W
Mr. CURRIE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any official estimate has been made of the extent to which, in the event of the Government adopting a policy of buying out distilleries, the sum payable by the taxpayer as compensation might be made good by using the plants so acquired, either in the hands of the Government itself or in some other way, for the production of alcohol for industrial and manufacturing purposes; and whether any of the Committees appointed by the Government to consider post-war trade arrangements have this branch of trade and the possibility of its development under consideration?

Mr. McKENNA

So far as I am aware, no such estimate has been made. The second part of the question should be addressed to the President of the Board of Trade.