Colonel CRAIGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many gallons of home-made spirits were distilled in the year ended 31st March, 1916; how many gallons of potable spirits were retained for home-consumption for the same year; how many gallons were exported for the same year; how many gallons were used for fortifying wines, etc., for the same year; how many gallons were used in arts and manufactures for the same year; how many gallons were used for methylation and other industrial purposes for the same year; how many gallons were allowed for deficiencies for the same year; how many gallons of 1697W home-made spirits were in bonded warehouses in England on 31st March, 1916, and of these how many gallons were spirits over five years old, over four years, over three years, over two years, and over one year, respectively; how many gallons of home-made spirits were in bonded warehouses in Scotland on 31st March, 1916, and of these how many gallons were spirits over five years old, over four years, over three years, over two years, and over one year, respectively; how many gallons of home-made spirits were in bonded warehouses in Ireland on 31st March, 1916, and of these how many gallons were spirits over five years old, over four years, over three years, over two years, and over one year, respectively?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will circulate the information asked for as far as it is available. The classified information with regard to spirits of different ages could only be supplied after exhaustive examination of the local official records, entailing an amount of labour which, in the present pressure of work, I do not think would be justified. The production and distribution of home-made spirits in the United Kingdom during the year ended 31st March, 1916, was as follows:
The quantities in bonded warehouses on 31st March, 1916, were:
Proof gallons. Distilled 49,135,199 Retained for home consumption (potable) 28,949,519 Exported 9,186,002 Used for fortifying wines, for ships' stores, etc. 544,555 Used in arts and manufactures 1,165,148 Used for methylation 9,539,547 Allowed for deficiencies, etc. 6,503,080 Information as to the age of spirits in warehouse is not available.
Proof gallons. In England 8,017,790 In Scotland 106,730,173 In Ireland 26,188,157 Total for United Kingdom 140,936,120